Baycol Answers

1. What should you do if you are taking Baycol?


The FDA has advised people taking Baycol to contact their physician to discuss alternative medications. Importantly, the FDA warns people who are taking Baycol and experiencing muscle pain to immediately discontinue Baycol and contact their physician for advice.


2. What should you do if you are taking Baycol and Lopid (gemfibrozil)?


The FDA has advised people taking Baycol and Lopid (gemfibrozil) to immediately discontinue Baycol and contact their physician for further advice.


3. What is rhabdomyolysis?


Rhabdomyolysis is a rare but very serious condition. It occurs when muscles are damaged and muscle cell contents are released into the bloodstream. If not detected early and treated promptly, rhabdomyolysis may result in acute renal failure, kidney damage, or other organ damage which may be fatal.


4. What are the symptoms of rhabdomyolysis?


Patients who develop rhabdomyolysis can have several different symptoms, but most often complain about muscle aches involving their calves, back, or their entire body. In addition to this type of muscle pain, weakness, fever, nausea, vomiting, and passing of dark urine can occur.


5. What should you do if you think you might have symptoms of rhabdomyolysis due to Baycol?


The FDA has advised people in this situation to stop taking Baycol immediately and call their physician.


6. What cholesterol drugs are alternatives to Baycol?


Baycol is a member of the popular class of cholesterol drugs commonly called "statins".

There are five (5) other statins available in the United States. They are Lipitor (atorvastatin), Lescol (fluvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), and Zocor (simvastatin).

There are also other drugs for lowering cholesterol that are not statin drugs.

The FDA advises people to contact their physician to determine which drug treatment is best for them.


7. Do other statin drugs have the same safety concerns as Baycol?


All statins have been associated with reports of rhabdomyolysis. These cases can occur when the statins are used alone or when used in combination with Lopid (gemfibrozil). However cases of fatal rhabdomyolysis have been reported more frequently in association with Baycol than with any of the other statin drugs.