Why it's used

Justechol Tablet is used to decrease the amount of bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein (LDL)) and triglycerides in the blood. It is a prescription medicine. This medicine works by slowing down the synthesis of cholesterol in the body. This medicine helps by decreasing the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries. Justechol is also used to raise the amounts of good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein (HDL)) in the blood. It is also used to decrease the amount of cholesterol, fats, and other fatty substances in the blood in children with age of 10 to 17 years who have familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia (an inherited condition in which cholesterol cannot be removed from the body). Justechol is also used to treat a genetic condition characterized by increased levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults (Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia). Justechol Tablet is also used to decrease the progression of the condition of the build-up of fats, fatty substances, and cholesterol in the arteries of the heart (atherosclerosis). Justechol is also used to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and surgical procedures to restore necessary blood flow to the heart muscles.
HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor
Justechol belongs to a class of medicines called HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor. HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors are a class of lipid-lowering medications, effective at lowering high cholesterol levels. These medicines also reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke or developing angina.

How to use

Read the directions on the product label, patient guide, or medicine guide provided by the medicine company or your pharmacist before starting to use Justechol Tablet. If you have any questions related to this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Eat this medicine as recommended by your doctor.
Justechol Tablet is eaten with or without food.
The typical dose of Justechol is 5 to 40 mg once daily. The usual dose for children is 5 to 20 mg/day. The maximum adult dose of Justechol is 40 mg/day in a day.
You should continue to use this medicine as directed by the doctor even if you feel well.
Talk to your doctor if your condition does not improve. Tell your doctor if muscle problems (muscular pain, muscle weakness and muscle breakdown). If you have any kidney disease, In patients with the severe condition of abnormal functioning of the kidneys, the dose of Justechol should be started at 5 mg once daily. This dosing limit should not be exceeded more than 10 mg once daily in such patients. If you have issues with the health of your liver, Justechol should be used under necessary precautions in patients with active liver disease. You should consult with your doctor before stopping the use of Justechol.
Your doctor may recommend a lower initial dose of this medicine to see the impact of this medicine on the body. Please follow your doctor's directions. Older patients may see an increase in the incidence of side-effects with this medicine. As a result, a lower dose may be recommended for older patients.
If you are giving Justechol Tablet to a child, be sure to use a product that is meant for children. Before giving this medicine to a child, use the child's weight or age to find the right dose from the product package. You can also read the dosage section of this page to know the correct dose for your child. Else, consult with your doctor and follow their recommendation.
Avoid the consumption of alcohol with Justechol.
Your doctor may request that specific lab tests be performed before you start using Justechol Tablet. You may need to have Liver Panel test. Liver enzyme tests are being used to detect increased levels of liver enzymes in the blood such as AST (SGOT), or ALT (SGPT) before starting the therapy with Justechol. Your doctor may request Cholesterol test. The high levels of cholesterol in the blood is determined before starting the treatment with Justechol.
You should store Justechol Tablet 20-25ºC (68-77ºF), and away from moisture. Store the medicine away from the reach of children and pets.
Medicines may be prescribed for uses other than those listed in the medicine guide. Do not use Justechol Tablet for conditions for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Justechol Tablet to other people who might have the same conditions or symptoms that you have. Self-medication may harm them.

Get TabletWise Pro

Thousands of Classes to Help You Become a Better You.

How to take Justechol

The dose and frequency of using Justechol will depend on the following factors:
  • age of the patient
  • patient's health
  • the health of the patient's liver
  • the health of the patient's kidneys
  • medicines recommended by the doctor
  • any other medicines being used
  • herbal supplements being used
  • response to the medicine

Justechol Dosage

Dosage for a genetic condition characterized by increased levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia)

Adult
  • Recommended: 5-40 mg once a day
  • Initial: 20 mg once a day
  • Maximum: 40 mg
Children (7 to 17 years)
  • Recommended: 20 mg once a day
  • Initial: 5 to 10 mg once daily depending upon the patient's weight, age, and previous statin therapy
  • Maximum: 20 mg once daily

Dosage for a genetic disorder that causes extremely high levels of cholesterol, which can further result in heart diseases, heart attack, or damage to the brain (heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia)

Children (8 to less than 10 years)
  • Recommended: 5 to 10 mg once a day
  • Initial: 5 mg/day
  • Maximum: 10 mg
Children (10 to 17 years)
  • Recommended: 5 to 20 mg once a day
  • Maximum: 20 mg

Minimum Age

6 years

Maximum Age

75 years and above

Dosage calculation for children

To calculate the dosage for children please use the weight based dose calculator to calculate the appropriate dosage as per the weight of your child.

Forms

Tablet
Strength: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg

Special Instructions

Patients taking cyclosporine in combination with Justechol
The dose of Justechol should not be increased by more than 5 mg once a day.
Use of Justechol in patients taking gemfibrozil
The use of Justechol with gemfibrozil should be avoided. If this combination cannot be avoided, the dose of Justechol can be initiated at 5 mg once daily. The dose of Justechol should not exceed 10 mg once a day.
Patients taking Justechol along with atazanavir and ritonavir, lopinavir and ritonavir, or simeprevir
The dose with Justechol should be initiated at 5 mg once a day. The dose of Justechol should not exceed 10 mg once a day.
Asian patients
In Asian patients, the dose of Justechol should be initiated with 5 mg once a day due to increased levels of Justechol in the blood.
Patients with severe abnormal functioning of the kidney
In patients with severe abnormal functioning of the kidney, but not on hemodialysis, the dosing with Justechol should be initiated at 5 mg once a day and should not exceed 10 mg once daily.

Missed Dose

The missed dose should be taken as soon as you remember it. However, if it is less than 12 hours before the next dose is scheduled, the missed dose should be skipped, and the regular dosing schedule should be continued. A double dose should not be taken to make up for a missed dose.

Overdose

What to do if you overdose on Justechol?
In case of overdose, there is no specific treatment. Supportive care and the treatment according to the symptoms should be provided. Hemodialysis does not significantly increase the excretion of Justechol.
If you think you have overdosed on Justechol Tablet, call a poison control center immediately. You can look up the poison control center information from the Poison Center Finder at TabletWise.com.

Precautions while using Justechol

Before you use Justechol Tablet, discuss with your doctor if you are allergic to it or its ingredients. Your doctor may prescribe an alternative medicine and update your medical records to record this information.
Before you use Justechol, tell your doctor of your medical and health history including the following: liver disease, heart disease, muscle disorders, or high blood pressure. Before having surgery during the use of Justechol, discuss with your doctor and dentist about the medicinal products you use including prescription/non-prescription/herbal medicines.
The use of this medicine may change alkaline phosphatase levels. The levels of alkaline phosphatase have been found to be increased during treatment with Justechol.
The use of this medicine may change glucose. Glucose levels have been found to be increased during Justechol treatment.
The use of Justechol Tablet may change transaminase levels. The levels of liver enzymes are found to increase during therapy with Justechol.
The use of this medicine may change creatine phosphokinase levels. The levels of creatine phosphokinase have been found to be increased during treatment with Justechol.
The use of Justechol Tablet may change glutamyl transpeptidase levels. The levels of glutamyl transpeptidase are found to increase during therapy with Justechol.
Justechol Tablet can make you feel sleepy. Be careful when using any machinery, driving a vehicle, or doing any other activity that needs you to be fully alert. The consumption of alcohol with Justechol Tablet can worsen the sleepiness.
Pregnant/breastfeeding women should not use this medicine. Justechol Tablet is not for use by women. The safety data in such women has not been confirmed, and there is no benefit to treatment with Justechol during pregnancy. Therefore, the use of Justechol in pregnant women is not recommended as it may cause harm to the unborn baby. Women who are breastfeeding a baby should not use this medicine. Studies indicate that Justechol may be present in human milk which may cause severe side effects in nursing infants. Therefore, women who require Justechol therapy should not breastfeed their infants. If a patient becomes pregnant while using this medicine, treatment should be stopped immediately.
Avoid consuming alcohol together with Justechol.
Justechol Tablet may cause increased incidence of side-effects in older patients. Elderly patients may see an increased risk of muscle disease (myopathy).

What precautions should be taken during Pregnancy and Nursing, and administering Justechol to Children or the Older Adults?

Pregnant Women

Contraindication
Warning: The use of Justechol in pregnant women is not recommended as it may cause harm to the unborn baby.

Breastfeeding

Contraindication
Warning: Available data suggested that Justechol may be present in human milk that may cause severe side-effects in a breastfed infant.

Younger Adults Population

Precaution
Warning: Take necessary precautions while using Justechol in children.

Older Adults Population

Management or monitoring precaution
Warning: Elderly patients may see an increased risk of muscle disorder (myopathy). Therefore caution should be exercised in such patients while using Justechol.

Justechol Side-effects

The following side-effects may commonly occur when using Justechol Tablet. If any of these side-effects worsen or last for a long time, you should consult with your doctor:
The following side-effects may commonly occur in older patients on the use of Justechol Tablet. Discuss with your doctor if any of these side-effects last for a long time or are severe:
Rarely, the use of Justechol Tablet may cause the following side-effects:
The following severe side-effects may also occur when using Justechol Tablet:
  • immune system disorders
    Symptoms: severe allergic reactions
  • psychiatric disorders
    Symptoms: depression
  • respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
  • kidney, urinary and liver disorders
    Symptoms: the presence of blood in the urine (haematuria), yellowing of the skin (jaundice), inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) increased liver enzymes (transaminases)
  • musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
    Symptoms: tendon disorders including tendon rupture, muscle weakness (immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy) breakdown of damaged skeletal muscle
  • blood and lymphatic system disorders
    Symptoms: abnormally low level of thrombocytes
  • endocrine disorders
    Symptoms: high blood sugar levels
  • nervous system disorders
    Symptoms: weakness, numbness, and pain from nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) damage to the peripheral nerves (polyneuropathy)
  • stomach and intestinal disorders
    Symptoms: inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), diarrhea constipation
  • skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
    Symptoms: severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
Your doctor has prescribed Justechol Tablet because they judge that the benefit is greater than the risk posed by side-effects. Many people using this medicine do not have serious side-effects. This page does not list all possible side-effects of Justechol Tablet.
If you experience side-effects or notice other side-effects not listed above, contact your doctor for medical advice. You may also report side-effects to your local food and drug administration authority. You can look up the drug authority contact information from the Drug Authority Finder at TabletWise.com.

Side-effects and Allergic Reactions of Justechol by Severity and Frequency

Common Side-effects

Following are the common side-effects of this medicine:

Infrequent and Rare Side-effects

Following are the infrequent and rare side-effects of this medicine:

Severe Side-effects

Following are the severe side-effects of this medicine:

Side-effects in Older Adults

Following are the side-effects of this medicine in elderly patients:

Mild Allergic Reactions

Following are the symptoms of mild allergic reactions to this medicine:
  • hives
  • rash
  • severe skin itching
  • swelling of the lower layer of the skin

Serious Allergic Reactions

Following are the symptoms of serious allergic reactions to this medicine:
  • severe allergic reaction
  • severe skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
If you experience side-effects or notice other side-effects not listed above, contact your doctor for medical advice. You may also report side-effects to your local food and drug administration authority. You can look up the drug authority contact information from the Drug Authority Finder at TabletWise.com.

Warnings

Interstitial lung diseases

The patients with long-term therapy of some statins including Justechol are at an increased risk. Such patients may develop an increased risk of symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, non-productive cough and worsening of general health conditions (fatigue, weight loss, and fever). Discontinue the use of statin therapy if a patient may develop the condition of interstitial lung disease.

Patients with lactose intolerance

It is advised not to take this medicine by patients with the Lapp lactase deficiency, rare family history problems of galactose intolerance or incomplete absorption of glucose-galactose.

Patients using protease inhibitors

Patients using protease inhibitors may lead to increased exposure of Justechol in the body. The combined use with specific protease inhibitors should not be recommended unless the dose of Justechol is adjusted.

Diabetes Mellitus

Patients with fasting glucose ranging from 5.6 to 6.9 mmol/l, body mass index more than 30 kg/m2, increased levels of triglycerides and high blood pressure are at an increased risk. Such patients may develop increased levels of glucose in the blood. Proper monitoring of both clinical and biochemical parameters is required in patients who are at risk.

Skeletal muscle abnormalities

The patients with age more than 65 years, abnormal functioning of the kidneys and inadequately treated thyroid diseases are at an increased risk. The risk of muscle disorders during treatment with Justechol may get increased with combined use of some other lipid-lowering therapies (niacin or fibrates), cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, ritonavir/atazanavir, simeprevir, or lopinavir/ritonavir. Cases of a muscle disorder, including a breakdown of damaged skeletal muscle (rhabdomyolysis), have been reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, including Justechol, taken with colchicine. Discontinue the therapy with Justechol during increased levels of creatine kinase or if the condition of muscle diseases is being diagnosed or suspected.

Liver enzyme abnormalities

Patients who consume large quantities of alcohol, have a history of long-term liver diseases and have active liver disease are at an increased risk while using this medicine. Increase in the blood levels of liver enzymes such as AST (SGOT) or ALT (SGPT) (blood transaminases) has been reported with the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, including Justechol. In most cases, the increase was temporary and improved on continued therapy or after a short delay in treatment. It is advised to perform liver enzyme tests before starting the treatment with Justechol and if symptoms or signs of liver injury occur. Take necessary precautions while using Justechol in patients who consume large quantities of alcohol or have a history of long-term liver diseases. Patients who have active liver disease should not use Justechol. There have been some reports of fatal and non-fatal liver failure in patients taking statins, including Justechol. If severe liver injury with clinical symptoms or increased bilirubin or yellow discoloration of the skin occurs during treatment with Justechol, immediately discontinue treatment.

The combined use of coumarin anticoagulants with Justechol

Patients who are on anticoagulant therapy are at an increased risk while using this medicine. Justechol when used in combination with coumarin anticoagulants, may raise the effects of coumarin-type anticoagulants in increasing the time taken by blood to clot (prothrombin time)/INR. In patients taking coumarin anticoagulants and Justechol together, the international normalized ratio (INR) should be determined before starting the treatment with Justechol.

Patients with presence of proteins and blood in the urine

During the clinical trial program of Justechol, the presence of proteins and blood in the urine were observed in patients using 40 mg of Justechol. A dose reduction should be considered for patients on Justechol treatment with unexplained persistent proteins and blood in the urine during a regular urine test.

Endocrine Effects

Increase in fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin levels have been observed with the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, including Justechol. Caution should be used if Justechol is taken in combination with drugs which may reduce the levels of endogenous steroid hormones such as spironolactone, ketoconazole, and cimetidine.

Interactions with Justechol

When two or more medicines are taken together, it can change how the medicines work and increase the risk of side-effects. In medical terms, this is called as a Drug Interaction.
Justechol Tablet interacts with protease inhibitors, which are used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. The use of Justechol along with specific protease inhibitors has different effects on its absorption rate. Simeprevir, which is a hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor, or atazanavir/ritonavir and lopinavir/ritonavir combinations, which are HIV-1 protease inhibitors, increase the absorption of Justechol and its level in blood up to threefold. When Justechol is given in combination with protease inhibitors, the dose of Justechol should not exceed 10 mg once a day. The combinations of fosamprenavir/ritonavir or tipranavir/ritonavir, which are HIV-1 protease inhibitors, produce little or no change in the absorption of Justechol. Caution should be used when Justechol is given in combination with protease inhibitors.
There may be an interaction of Justechol with gemfibrozil, which is used to lower the level of lipids. The absorption of gemfibrozil is significantly increased by Justechol. Also, the use of these drugs together resulted in a 2-fold increase in Justechol levels in the blood. Due to an increased risk of muscle disease (myopathy) and breakdown of damaged muscles (rhabdomyolysis), the combination treatment with Justechol and gemfibrozil should be avoided. If both the drugs are used together, the dose of Justechol should not exceed 10 mg once a day.
Justechol Tablet may interact with cyclosporine, which is used as an immunosuppressant. The use of Justechol and cyclosporine in combination increased the amount of Justechol in blood by 7-fold. The use of Justechol is not recommended in patients who are also on treatment with cyclosporin. If this treatment is necessary, the dose of Justechol should not be exceeded by 5 mg once a day.
Your doctor's guidelines may need to be followed while taking this medicine along with niacin, which is a vitamin and also used along with other lipid lowering drugs. The risk of skeletal muscle effects may be increased when Justechol is used in combination with lipid-modifying doses of 1 g/day of niacin. Take necessary precautions while using niacin with Justechol.
Special instructions need to be followed while taking this medicine along with coumarin anticoagulants, which are used to prevent clotting of blood. Justechol significantly increases INR which is how long blood takes to clot in patients who are on coumarin anticoagulants treatment. Caution should be used when coumarin anticoagulants are given in combination with Justechol. In such patients, INR should be determined before beginning Justechol therapy and frequently during early treatment to ensure that no significant change of INR takes place.
Your doctor's guidelines may need to be followed while taking this medicine along with erythromycin, which is used for the treatment of bacterial infections. The use of Justechol and erythromycin together has resulted in a decrease in the levels of Justechol in the blood. This interaction may be caused by an increase in the abnormal contractions of the intestine.
Special instructions need to be followed while taking this medicine along with antacids, which are used to treat acidity. The treatment with Justechol and an antacid suspension containing aluminum and magnesium hydroxide has resulted in a decrease in the levels of Justechol in the blood. This effect was decreased when the antacid was given after 2 hours of Justechol.
Justechol Tablet interacts with ezetimibe, which is used to lower the levels of cholesterol in the blood. The use of 10 mg of Justechol with 10 mg of ezetimibe resulted in an increase in the blood level of Justechol in patients with high cholesterol levels.
There may be an interaction of Justechol with colchicine, which is used for the treatment of gout. The combined use of Justechol with colchicine may lead to an emergence of muscle diseases (myopathy), including the breakdown of damaged skeletal muscles (rhabdomyolysis). Necessary precautions are to be made when Justechol is prescribed with colchicine.
Justechol Tablet may interact with fenofibrate, which is used to reduce the levels of cholesterol in the blood. When Justechol is given in combination with fenofibrate, no clinically significant increase in the level of rosuvastatin or fenofibrate in the blood was seen. The risk of muscle disease (myopathy) during treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors is increased with simultaneous use of fenofibrate. Caution should be exercised when fenofibrate is prescribed with Justechol.
Justechol Tablet interacts with fusidic acid, which is an antibiotic used in the treatment of inflammation of the skin, hair follicles, and infections of the skin. The risk of muscle diseases (myopathy), including the breakdown of damaged skeletal muscles (rhabdomyolysis) may be increased when Justechol is given together with systemic fusidic acid. If the treatment with systemic fusidic acid is necessary, therapy with Justechol should be discontinued as long as treatment with fusidic acid is required.
There may be an interaction of Justechol with oral contraceptives, which are used as birth control measures and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is a form of hormone therapy used to treat symptoms related to menopause in women. The use of Justechol with oral contraceptives has resulted in an increased level of ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel in the blood. These increased levels of drugs in the blood should be considered while selecting the doses of oral contraceptive.
Justechol Tablet may interact with vitamin K antagonists, which are used for clotting of blood. Patients using vitamin K antagonists with Justechol are at risk of an increase in International Normalised Ratio, which is the time that blood takes to clot. Discontinuation of such treatment or decrease in dosage of Justechol may result in a reduction in INR. In such cases, proper monitoring of INR is advisable.
This page does not contain all the possible interactions of Justechol Tablet. Share a list of all medicines that you use with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medicines without the approval of your doctor.

Interactions of Justechol by Severity

Severe

The following medicines are usually not to be taken together without consulting with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious

The following medicines may interact when taken together and can cause harmful effects in the body. Please consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking these medicines together.

Moderate

The following medicines may interact when taken together and can increase your risk of harmful effects. Please consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking these medicines together.

When should Justechol be not used?

Allergic to Justechol or any of its components

This medicine should not be used in patients who are allergic to it or any of its components. These patients may have the following symptoms if they use this medicine:
  • rash
  • severe skin itching
  • hives
  • swelling of the lower layer of the skin

Patients with active liver disease

The use of Justechol is not recommended in patients with active liver disease, including an unexplained persistent rise of liver transaminase levels.

Pregnant women

The safety data in such women has not been confirmed, and there is no benefit to treatment with Justechol during pregnancy. Therefore, the use of Justechol in pregnant women is not recommended as it may cause harm to the unborn baby.

Breastfeeding women

Studies indicate that Justechol may be present in human milk. Therefore, women who require Justechol therapy should not breastfeed their infants. Severe side effects may occur in nursing infants.

Patients receiving ciclosporin

Patients should not take ciclosporin and Justechol together.

Muscle diseases (myopathy)

Patients with muscle disease should not undergo treatment with Justechol.

A severe condition of abnormal functioning of the kidney

The use of Justechol is not recommended in patients with severe abnormal functioning of the kidney.

Traveling With Medication

  • Ensure that you carry enough doses of each of your prescription medicines to last the entire trip. The best place to store your medicines is in the carry on baggage. However, while flying, if carrying liquid medicines, make sure you do not go over the limits imposed for carry-on liquids.
  • While traveling overseas, make sure that you can carry each of your prescription medicines legally to your destination country. One way to ensure this is by checking with your destination country's embassy or website.
  • Make sure that you carry each of your medicines in their original packaging, which should typically include your name and address, and the details of the prescribing doctor.
  • If your travel involves crossing time zones, and you are required to take your medicine as per a fixed schedule, make sure that you adjust for the change in time.

Expired Medication

Taking a single dose of expired Justechol is unlikely to cause a side-effect. However, please discuss with your doctor or pharmacist, if you feel unwell or sick. An expired medicine may become ineffective in treating your prescribed conditions. To be on the safe side, it is important not to use an expired drug. You are much safer by always keeping a fresh supply of unexpired medicines.

Safe Disposal of Medication

  • If there are disposal instructions on the package, please follow the instructions.
  • If there are medicine take-back programs in your country, you should contact the respective authority to arrange for the disposal of the medicine. For example, in the USA, the Drug Enforcement Administration regularly hosts National Prescription Drug Take-Back events.
  • If there are no take-back programs, mix the medicine with dirt and place them in a sealed plastic bag. Throw the plastic bag in your household trash. Separately, remove all personal information including the prescription label from the medicine packaging and then dispose off the container.
  • If specifically indicated on the medicine package that it needs to be flushed down the toilet when no longer needed, perform the required step.
This page provides information for Justechol Tablet .
Hyperlipidaemia
High Triglycerides
High Cholesterol
Atherosclerosis

Sign Up



Share

Share with friends, get 20% off
Invite your friends to TabletWise learning marketplace. For each purchase they make, you get 20% off (upto $10) on your next purchase.