Side Effects:

Common Headache, Stomach pain, Constipation, Feeling sick, Muscle pain, Weakness, Dizziness, Increased glucose level in blood.

Expert advice for Optilip Tablet
Optilip lowers "bad" cholesterol (LDL). It helps prevent heart attack and stroke. Regular exercise and low-fat diet further help to lower levels of fat in the blood. Optilip prevents one death in every 50 patients with heart disease treated over 4 to 5 years. In general, Optilip is safe. It may cause digestive problems like diarrhoea, gas. If any of these happen to you, take it with food. It is better to take in the evening. Notify your doctor if you are more tired than usual, do not feel hungry, or if you have yellow eyes, skin or dark urine. Notify your doctor if you experience muscle symptoms (pain or weakness), particularly if you have fever, a sick feeling or dark urine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What should I know about high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of fat present in your blood. Your total cholesterol is made up of LDL and HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is called “bad” cholesterol as it can build up in the wall of your blood vessels and slow or obstruct blood flow to your heart, brain, and other organs. This can cause heart diseases and stroke. HDL cholesterol is called “good” cholesterol as it prevents the bad cholesterol from building up in the blood vessels. Triglycerides also are harmful fats found in your blood.

Q. Is Optilip used for lowering cholesterol?
Optilip belongs to a group of medicines known as statins, which are lipid (fat) lowering medicines. It is used to lower lipids known as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood when a low-fat diet and lifestyle changes on their own have failed. If you are at an increased risk of heart disease, Optilip can also be used to reduce such risk even if your cholesterol levels are normal. You should maintain a standard cholesterol-lowering diet during treatment.

Q. Is Optilip diuretic?
Optilip is not a diuretic. It is a lipid lowering agent which belongs to a group of medicines known as statins.

Q. Is Optilip better than simvastatin and pravastatin?
Optilip, simvastatin, and pravastatin belong to the same category of medications with similar action and similar side effects, but their effect may vary upon individual response. Always consult your doctor regarding its use.

Q. Can the use of Optilip cause diabetes?
Diabetes has not been reported as a side effect of Optilip. However, it may increase your blood sugar levels. So, it is very important that you monitor your blood sugar levels regularly if you are taking Optilip. Also, share with your doctor if you have diabetes mellitus and you are advised to take Optilip as your doctor will monitor you while you are taking this medicine.

Q. Can Optilip lower the level of triglycerides?
Optilip belongs to a group of medicines known as statins, which are lipid (fat) lowering medicines. Optilip is used to lower lipids known as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood when a low-fat diet and lifestyle changes on their own have failed.

Q. Does Optilip cause weight loss?
Optilip has not been reported to cause weight loss. However, weight gain has been reported as an uncommon side effect. Please consult your doctor if you experience weight loss while you are taking Optilip.

Q. Does Optilip cause erectile dysfunction?
Optilip can cause erectile dysfunction although this side effect is not very clear. Please consult your doctor if you experience erectile dysfunction while you are taking Optilip.

Q. Does Optilip cause diarrhea?
Diarrhea is a common side effect of Optilip. Please consult your doctor if you experience diarrhea after taking Optilip as the dose of your medicine may need to be changed.

Q. Does Optilip cause memory loss?
Loss of memory is an uncommon side effect of Optilip, which may affect up to 1 in 100 people. Please consult your doctor if you experience any symptoms of memory loss after taking Optilip.

Q. Does Optilip cause frequent urination?
Optilip has not been reported to cause frequent urination. Please consult your doctor if you experience increased urinary frequency after taking Optilip.

Q. Does Optilip cause high blood pressure?
Optilip has not been reported to cause high blood pressure. Please consult your doctor if you experience any symptoms of high blood pressure while taking Optilip.

Q. Is Optilip a blood thinner?
Optilip is not a blood thinner. Optilip is a lipid lowering agent which belongs to a group of medicines known as statins.

Q. Is Optilip safe to take?
Optilip is safe if used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration as advised by your doctor.

Q. Is Optilip a beta blocker?
Optilip is not a beta blocker. Optilip is a lipid lowering agent which belongs to a group of medicines known as statins.

Q. Is Optilip a controlled substance?
Optilip is not a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). Controlled substances are drugs that are strictly regulated to reduce the risk of abuse and illegal distribution. To determine the level of restriction placed on a particular controlled substance, five different categories (or "Schedules") are used. A controlled substance will belong to Schedule I, II, III, IV, or V, with Schedule V being the least restricted.

Q. Is Optilip an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor?
Optilip is not an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Optilip is a lipid lowering agent which belongs to a group of medicines known as statins.

Q. Can I take Optilip with metformin?
Optilip can be taken with metformin. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Optilip with ibuprofen?
Optilip can be taken with ibuprofen. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Optilip with milk?
No information is available for the use of Optilip with milk. However, it can be taken any time of the day, with or without food. Please consult your doctor.

Q. Can I take Optilip with fenofibrate?
Both fenofibrate and Optilip have similar effects and they may increase the effects of each other. Fenofibrate may also increase side effects like risk for rhabdomyolysis (condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly). Monitoring is required when these two drugs are taken together. Please consult your doctor before taking these two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Optilip with levothyroxine?
Optilip can be taken with levothyroxine. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Optilip with amlodipine?
Optilip can be taken with amlodipine. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Optilip with erythromycin?
Erythromycin can increase the level or effect of Optilip by decreasing its breakdown which may lead to increased side effects like muscle weakness (myopathy). So, close monitoring is required when these two drugs are taken together. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Optilip with metronidazole?
Metronidazole can increase the level or effect of Optilip by decreasing its breakdown which may lead to increased side effects like muscle weakness (myopathy) with Optilip. So, close monitoring is required when these two drugs are taken together. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Optilip with clarithromycin?
Clarithromycin can increase the level or effect of Optilip by decreasing its breakdown which may lead to increased side effects like muscle weakness (myopathy) with Optilip. So, close monitoring is required when these two drugs are taken together. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Does Optilip cause gas?
Flatulence (gas or wind) is one of the common side effects associated with the use of Optilip. If you have any such symptom while taking the drug, consult your doctor.

Q. Does Optilip lower blood pressure?
Optilip is a lipid-lowering drug used in the treatment of increased cholesterol levels and for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. However, a meta-analysis of different clinical trial shows that Optilip has a small blood pressure lowering effect.

Q. Does Optilip affect the liver?
Optilip is associated rarely with hepatobiliary disorders. Its use is also linked with abnormal liver function test and hence a periodic test of the liver functions is recommended.

Q. Does Optilip cause itching?
Optilip use has been associated with urticaria (itching) and skin rash. If you experience any such symptom while using the drug, consult your doctor.

Q. Does Optilip thin blood?
Optilip is not a blood-thinner. It is a lipid-lowering agent and acts by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase enzyme.

Q. What is Optilip?
Optilip is a lipid-lowering drug which belongs to group of medications called statins (lipid-lowering agents) or HMG CoA reductase inhibitors. It acts by blocking the enzyme HMG CoA reductase and formation of cholesterol, thus, lowering the blood lipid levels.