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Indication, Usage and Important Safety Information: LOVAZA™ (omega-3-acid ethyl esters) is used along with diet to lower very high triglycerides (greater than or equal to 500 mg/dL) in adults. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if prescription LOVAZA is right for you. Before you take LOVAZA you should take these steps to control your very high triglyceride levels: modify your diet, lose weight if you are overweight, increase exercise and reduce alcohol use. Your health-care provider can help by treating diseases such as diabetes and low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism); and by adjusting other medications that may raise triglyceride levels such as certain blood pressure medications and estrogen therapy. Treatment with LOVAZA has not been shown to prevent heart attacks or strokes. LOVAZA is generally well tolerated with a low occurrence of side effects. Burping, infection, flu-like symptoms, upset stomach, a change in your sense of taste, back pain and skin rash are LOVAZA’s most common side effects, but there are others. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list. Talk to your doctor immediately if you think you are experiencing any side effects. Do not take LOVAZA if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you have: diabetes, a thyroid problem called hypothyroidism, a liver or pancreas problem, are allergic to fish, are pregnant, are planning to become pregnant, or are breast feeding. Tell your doctor about all of the prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements you take. Especially tell your doctor if you take anticoagulants or blood thinners to reduce clotting. These include aspirin, warfarin, Coumadin® (warfarin sodium)1 and Plavix® (clopidogrel).2 Your doctor should check your triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and monitor your liver function during treatment with LOVAZA. Store LOVAZA at room temperature, 59° to 86° F (15° to 30° C). Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need. Keep LOVAZA out of the reach of children. 1Coumadin® is a registered trademark of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Please see complete Prescribing Information for Lovaza. |
Understanding TriglyceridesMany people who are working hard to maintain or improve their health are familiar with the terms “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol. What is often overlooked or underdiscussed are triglyceride levels. Like cholesterol, triglycerides are fats (lipids) that, in balanced and moderate amounts, perform significant and important functions in your body. Yet, when triglyceride levels are persistently too high, it means you have too much fat in your bloodstream, which can affect your health. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that physicians monitor triglycerides to measure your health risk. Your doctor can measure the amount of triglycerides in your body with a simple blood test. Below is a set of guidelines to help your doctor determine whether you have very high triglycerides. The National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines for triglycerides are:
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