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What is the most important information I should know about cerivastatin?

Cerivastatin was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2001.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if it is accompanied by a fever or flu-like symptoms or yellowing of your skin or eyes. Do not take cerivastatin without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease. Alcohol and cerivastatin can both damage your liver. Discuss with your doctor the amount of alcohol that you drink so that it can be determined if cerivastatin is the best choice for lowering your cholesterol. Do not take cerivastatin if you are pregnant, if you are planning a pregnancy, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.

What is cerivastatin?

Cerivastatin was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2001.

Cerivastatin blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.

Cerivastatin is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol in your blood. Cerivastatin also reduces the amounts of triglycerides (another type of fat) and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood and increases the amount of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood. These actions are important in reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Cerivastatin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take cerivastatin?

Do not take cerivastatin without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.

Before taking cerivastatin, tell your doctor if you

• drink alcoholic beverages,

• have kidney disease,

• have a chronic muscular disease, or

• have seizures or epilepsy.

You may not be able to take cerivastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Cerivastatin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that cerivastatin will cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. Cholesterol is very important for the proper development of a baby. Do not take cerivastatin if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy. Cerivastatin passes into breast milk and can harm a nursing infant. Do not take cerivastatin if you are breast-feeding a baby.