Capsules d'Acipimox

About acipimox

Lipids, or fats, are made naturally in your body from the food you eat. They are easily stored in your body and serve as a source of energy. Cholesterol and triglycerides are types of lipid. If the concentration of these lipids in your blood becomes too high, it leads to a condition called hyperlipidémie. Bien qu'une concentration élevée de lipides dans le sang ne vous rende pas malade, elle peut poser un problème si elle n'est pas traitée.

Les personnes ayant des niveaux élevés de lipides peuvent développer de petites plaques graisseuses appelées athérome. Ces plaques se développent lorsque l'excès de graisse est déposé sur les parois des vaisseaux sanguins. Au fil du temps, ces plaques peuvent rétrécir un vaisseau sanguin et cela s'appelle l'athérosclérose (parfois appelée 'durcissement des artères'). Le rétrécissement réduit le flux sanguin à travers l'artère et augmente le risque de plusieurs maladies cardiaques et vasculaires, telles que crise cardiaque et AVC.

Some people are able to control high lipid levels by following a healthy diet and taking regular exercise. Medicines like acipimox are prescribed when additional help is needed. Acipimox lowers the levels of lipids in your blood. It does this by preventing the release of fats from the tissues in your body which act as storage areas. It is usually given alongside other medicines to lower lipid levels.

Before taking acipimox

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking acipimox it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si vous êtes enceinte ou si vous allaitez.

• Si vous avez des problèmes avec le fonctionnement de vos reins.

• Si vous avez un ulcère à l'estomac.

• Si vous prenez ou utilisez d'autres médicaments. Cela inclut tous les médicaments que vous prenez et qui sont disponibles à l'achat sans ordonnance, ainsi que les médicaments à base de plantes et les médecines complémentaires.

• Si vous avez déjà eu une réaction allergique à un médicament.

How to take acipimox

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about acipimox and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take the capsules exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usual to take one 250 mg capsule either two or three times a day. Your doctor will tell you which is the right dose for you, and the dose will also be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said.

• Take the capsule with a snack, or just after eating a meal. It is a good idea to swallow the capsule with a drink of water.

• Try to take your doses at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take the capsules regularly. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose. Do not take two capsules at the same time to make up for a forgotten dose.

Tirer le meilleur parti de votre traitement

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so that your doctor can check on your progress. You will need to have some blood tests from time to time. These are to measure your lipid levels and also to check that your liver and kidneys are working well.

• Your doctor will give you advice about eating a healthy diet, cutting down on the amount of alcohol you normally drink, reducing the amount of salt in your diet, stopping smoking, and taking regular exercise. Following this advice will help you to reduce your risk of developing heart and blood vessel disease, and is an important part of managing your condition.

• Treatment with acipimox is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. You should continue to take it regularly.

Can acipimox cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common side-effects associated with acipimox. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. Unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Si vous ressentez d'autres symptômes que vous pensez être dus aux capsules, consultez votre médecin ou votre pharmacien pour obtenir des conseils supplémentaires.

How to store acipimox

• Gardez tous les médicaments hors de la portée et de la vue des enfants.

• Conserver dans un endroit frais et sec, à l'abri de la chaleur directe et de la lumière.

Informations importantes sur tous les médicaments