Nexlizet

Generic Name: bempedoic acid and ezetimibe (tablets)

Nexlizet is a prescription medicine that contains two cholesterol lowering medicines: bempedoic acid and ezetimibe. Nexlizet is used along with diet and other lipid-lowering medicines in the treatment of adults with:

• heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). HeFH is an inherited condition that causes high levels of “bad” cholesterol called low density lipoprotein (LDL).
• known heart disease who need additional lowering of “bad” cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.

It is not known if Nexlizet can decrease problems from high cholesterol, such as heart attacks, stroke, death, or other heart problems.
It is not known if Nexlizet is safe and effective in people with severe kidney problems including people with end-stage kidney disease who are on dialysis.
It is not known if Nexlizet is safe and effective in people with moderate to severe liver problems.
It is not known if Nexlizet is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

Who should not take Nexlizet?

You should not take Nexlizet if you are allergic to ezetimibe tablets. Ezetimibe, one of the active ingredients in Nexlizet, can cause serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash, and urticaria. Stop taking Nexlizet, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction including:

• swelling of your face, lips, mouth or tongue
• wheezing
• severe itching
• fast heart beat or pounding in your chest
• trouble breathing
• dizziness or fainting

See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients.

Before taking Nexlizet

Before you start taking Nexlizet, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have or had gout.
• have or had tendon problems.
• are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking Nexlizet. You and your healthcare provider will decide if you should take Nexlizet while you are pregnant.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Nexlizet passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take Nexlizet or breastfeed. You should not do both.
• have severe kidney problems.
• have moderate or severe liver problems.

Nexlizet may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Nexlizet works. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take or plan to take:

• simvastatin or pravastatin (other cholesterol lowering medicines). Taking simvastatin or pravastatin with Nexlizet may increase your risk of developing muscle pain or weakness (myopathy).
• cyclosporine (often used in organ transplant patients)
• fibrates (used to lower cholesterol)
• cholestyramine (used to lower cholesterol)

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take Nexlizet?

• Take Nexlizet exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• Take 1 Nexlizet tablet by mouth each day.
• Swallow the tablet whole. Do not cut, chew, or crush the tablet.
• You may take the tablet with or without food.
• If you take a medicine that lowers cholesterol by binding bile acids, such as colesevelam or cholestyramine, take Nexlizet at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after you take bile acid binding medicines. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you take these medicines.
• If you take too much Nexlizet, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

Nexlizet side effects

Nexlizet may cause serious side effects, including:

• increased levels of uric acid in your blood (hyperuricemia). This can happen within 4 weeks of you starting Nexlizet and continue throughout your treatment. Your healthcare provider may monitor your blood uric acid levels while you are taking Nexlizet. High levels of blood uric acid may lead to gout. Call your healthcare provider if you have the following symptoms of hyperuricemia and gout:
  • severe foot pain especially in the toe joint
  • warm joints
  • swelling
  • tender joints
  • joint redness

Gout may happen more in people who have had gout before but also can happen in people who have never had it before.

• tendon rupture or injury. Tendon problems can happen in people who take bempedoic acid, one of the medicines in Nexlizet. Tendons are tough cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Symptoms of tendon problems may include pain, swelling, tears, and inflammation of tendons including the arm, shoulder, and back of the ankle (Achilles).
  • Tendon rupture can happen while you are taking Nexlizet. Tendon ruptures can happen within weeks or months of starting Nexlizet.
  • The risk of getting tendon problems while you take Nexlizet is higher if you:
    • are over 60 years of age
    • are taking antibiotics (fluoroquinolones)
    • have had tendon problems
    • are taking steroids (corticosteroids)
    • have renal failure
  • Stop taking Nexlizet immediately and get medical help right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of a tendon rupture:
    • hear or feel a snap or pop in a tendon area
    • bruising right after an injury in a tendon area
    • unable to move the affected area or put weight on the affected area

Stop taking Nexlizet until tendon rupture has been ruled out by your healthcare provider. The most common areas of pain and swelling are the rotator cuff (the shoulder), the biceps tendon (upper arm), and the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle. This can happen with other tendons.

• Talk to your healthcare provider about the risk of tendon rupture with continued use of Nexlizet. You may need a different lipid lowering medicine to treat your cholesterol levels.

The most common side effects include:

• symptoms of the common cold, flu, or flu-like symptoms
• back pain
• bronchitis
• anemia
• diarrhea
• muscle spasms
• stomach pain
• pain in shoulder, legs, or arms
• increased liver enzymes
• fatigue

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.
Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store Nexlizet?

• Store Nexlizet in the original package at room temperature between 68ºF to 77ºF (20ºC to 25ºC).
• Protect from heat and moisture.
• Do not throw away the packet that helps to keep your medicine dry (desiccant).
• Nexlizet comes in a bottle with a child-resistant cap.
• Keep all medicines out of the reach of children and pets.

General information about the safe and effective use of Nexlizet.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use this medicine for a condition for which it wasnot prescribed. Do not give it to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information that is written for healthcare professionals.

What are the ingredients in Nexlizet?

• Active Ingredients: bempedoic acid and ezetimibe
• Inactive Ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, hydroxy propyl cellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone K30, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium starch glycolate
  Tablet coating: FD&C Blue #1/Brilliant Blue FCF Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue #2/Indigo Carmine Aluminum Lake, glyceryl monocaprylocaprate, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, and titanium dioxide