PROBUCOL

Brand & Generic Names

Lorelco

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Antihyperlipidemic

Uses

Lowers cholesterol level in blood in persons with type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
With morning and evening meals.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Reduces serum cholesterol without reducing liver cholesterol.

Time lapse before drug works:
3 to 4 months.

Don't take with:
Other medicines or vitamins. Separate by 1 to 2 hours.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
None reported.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

None expected.

Common:

Bloating, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, flatus.

Infrequent:

• Dizziness, headache.
• Numbness or tingling in feet, toes, fingers, face.

Rare:

• Swelling of hands, face, feet, mouth.
• Rash.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You are allergic to probucol.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have liver disease such as cirrhosis.
• If you have heartbeat irregularity.
• If you have congestive heart failure that is not under control.
• If you have gallstones.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.

Pregnancy:
No proven problems. Avoid if possible. Continue using birth- control methods for 6 months after discontinuing medicine.

Breast-feeding:
Not recommended. Animal studies show drug passes into milk. Studies not available for human beings. Consult doctor.

Infants & children:
Not recommended. Safety and dosage have not been established.

Prolonged use:
Request serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride laboratory studies every 2 to 4 months.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
If medicine does not cause dizziness, no problems expected.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without consulting doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.

Others:

• Medicine works best in conjunction with low-fat, low-cholesterol diet and an active, regular exercise program.
• May affect results in some medical test.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Chenodiol	Decreased chenodiol effect.
Clofibrate	Combination no more effective than
	one drug only, so don't take both.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	May aggravate liver problems.
	Avoid.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	None expected.
Tobacco:	None expected.