LOVAZA (lo-va-za) Capsules (omega-3-acid ethyl
esters)
Read the Patient
Information that comes with LOVAZA before you start taking it, and each time you
get a refill. There may be new information. This leaflet does not take the place
of talking with your doctor about your condition or
treatment.
WHAT IS
LOVAZA?
LOVAZA is a prescription medicine
for adults called a lipid-regulating medicine. LOVAZA is made of omega-3 fatty
acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are natural substances that your body needs. They are
found naturally in some plants and in the oil of certain fish, such as salmon
and mackerel. LOVAZA is used along with a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet to
lower very high triglycerides (fats) in your blood. Before taking LOVAZA, talk
to your healthcare provider about how you can lower high blood fats
by:
♦ losing weight,
if you are overweight
♦ increasing physical
exercise
♦ lowering alcohol
use
♦ treating diseases
such as diabetes and low thyroid (hypothyroidism)
♦ adjusting the dose or
changing other medicines that raise triglyceride levels such as certain blood
pressure medicines and estrogens
Treatment with
LOVAZA has not been shown to prevent heart attacks or strokes.
LOVAZA has not been studied in children under the age of 18
years.
Who should not
take LOVAZA?
Do not take LOVAZA if
you are allergic to
LOVAZA or any of its ingredients.
What should I
tell my doctor before taking
LOVAZA:
Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if
you:
♦drink more than 2 glasses
of alcohol daily
♦have
diabetes
♦have a thyroid problem called
hypothyroidism
♦have a liver
problem
♦have a pancreas
problem
♦are allergic to fish.
LOVAZA may
not be right for you
♦ are pregnant, or
planning to become pregnant. It is not known if LOVAZA can harm your unborn
baby.
♦ are breastfeeding. It is not known
if LOVAZA passes into your milk and if it can harmyour
baby.
Tell your doctor about
all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicine,
vitamins and herbal supplements. LOVAZA and certain other medicines can interact
causing serious side effects. Especially tell your doctor if you take
medicines:
♦ to reduce
clotting – known as anticoagulants or blood thinners. These include aspirin,
warfarin, coumarin and clopidogrel (Plavix).
Know all the
medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your doctor and
pharmacist.
Keep LOVAZA out of the reach
of children. Be sure that if you
throw medicines away, it is out of the reach of
children.
General
information about LOVAZA.
Medicines are sometimes
prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information
leaflets. Do not use LOVAZA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do
not give LOVAZA to other people, even if they have the same problem you have. It
may harm them.
