Lipicard-AV Tablet belongs to the class of medicines called antilipemic (lipid-lowering medicines) primarily used in the treatment of high lipid levels (cholesterol and triglycerides levels) and prevention of heart diseases and blood vessel blockage. Hyperlipidemia or hypertriglyceridemia is a condition in which there is a high level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or bad cholesterol and a decreased level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol. Increased level of bad cholesterol leads to a high risk of heart attack and stroke in the future, especially in patients with heart disease. 

Lipicard-AV Tablet is composed of two medicines, namely: Atorvastatin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor) and Fenofibrate (fibrates). Atorvastatin is a lipid-lowering medication that blocks the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase required to make cholesterol in the body. As a result, it lowers the bad cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins or LDL) and triglycerides (TG) and increases the levels of good cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins or HDL). Fenofibrate is another lipid-lowering agent that works by increasing the natural substance (lipoprotein lipase) that breaks down fats in the bloodstream, thereby increasing its utilization and removal. As a result, it decreases harmful cholesterol like LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides (TG) and increases levels of HDL (good cholesterol). 

Take Lipicard-AV Tablet as prescribed. Your doctor will advise you on how often you take Lipicard-AV Tablet based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience allergic reactions, hyperglycemia (excess of glucose in the bloodstream), headache, blurred vision, stomach pain, constipation, headaches, joint swelling (oedema), joint pain, muscle pain, back pain, slow heart rate, and nausea. Most of these side effects of Lipicard-AV Tablet do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.

Inform the doctor if you are allergic to any of the components in Lipicard-AV Tablet . If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have hypothyroidism, drink more than 2 servings of alcohol per day, and have a muscle disorder (fibromyalgia), it is advised to inform your doctor before using Lipicard-AV Tablet . Lipicard-AV Tablet is not recommended for children below  12 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established. Immediately contact your doctor if you experience yellowing of the skin (Jaundice), allergic reaction, cramps, or muscle weakness.

Lipicard-AV Tablet taken with dietary measures helps treat high cholesterol and prevent life-threatening conditions to the heart, especially for heart patients when initial dietary measures fail to lower cholesterol. It helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the level of good cholesterol (HDL) in dyslipidemia or hyperlipidemia. Lipicard-AV Tablet also lowers the amount of fat or cholesterol deposition (plaque) in the arteries of the heart, thereby reducing the chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the future.

• Muscle pain
• Muscle weakness
• Joint pain
• Back pain
• Stuffy/runny nose or nose bleeds
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Increased liver enzymes
• Allergic reactions
• Hyperglycaemia (excess of glucose in the bloodstream)
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

A patient should consult a doctor before taking Lipicard-AV Tablet if a patient has had a previous stroke with bleeding into the brain or have small pockets of fluid in the brain from previous strokes, or has kidney problems. has under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), has repeated or unexplained muscle aches or pains, has a personal history or family history of muscle problems, has previous muscular problems during treatment with other lipid-lowering medicines (e.g. other ‘-statin’ or ‘-fibrate’ medicines),  drinks a large amount of alcohol, has a history of liver disease, is older than 70 years,  has diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes, that is not well controlled or has problems with certain proteins in your blood.

Drug-Drug interaction: Lipicard-AV Tablet interacts with oral anticoagulants (coumarin, warfarin), anti-gout medicines (colchicine), antibiotics (like cephalexin, tetracycline, gentamicin), antifungals (like miconazole, fluconazole, and ketoconazole), HIV medicines (like abacavir, retrovir, and tenofovir), hepatitis C medicines (like ribavirin, elbasvir), contraceptive pills, anti-arthritis pills (cyclosporin) and other fibrates (clofibrate, gemfibrozil, ezetimibe). 

Drug-Food interaction: Avoid Lipicard-AV Tablet with food items containing grape juice as well as fatty products. 

Drug-Disease interaction: Lipicard-AV Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease (jaundice), kidney disease, lung disease, gall bladder stone, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), and muscle problems (myasthenia gravis, rhabdomyolysis).

• TETRACYCLINE
• GENTAMICIN
• MICONAZOLE
• FLUCONAZOLE
• CYCLOSPORINE
• VERAPAMIL
• DILTIAZEM

• Eating a proper diet (such as a low-cholesterol/low-fat diet), other lifestyle changes that may help this medication work better include exercising, losing weight if overweight, and stopping smoking.
• It is best to limit or avoid alcoholic drinks while you are taking this medicine.
• Using this medicine with alcohol can lead to additive side effects such as increased drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery if you are drinking alcohol-containing beverages.
• If you notice slurred speech, confusion, severe weakness or difficulty breathing, contact your health care provider immediately.
• Try aromatherapy, yoga, and meditation to help relax your body and mind.
• Try to do breathing exercises to get more oxygen.
• Eat a healthy diet especially rich in soluble fibers like beans, legumes, whole grains, flax, apples, and citrus fruits.
• Try to replace most of your saturated fats with unsaturated fats that can reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in a short period. Foods like avocados, olive oil, fatty fish, and nuts contain lots of heart-healthy unsaturated fats, so it’s beneficial to eat them regularly.
• Try to adopt a Mediterranean-style diet rich in olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and fish, and lower the consumption of red meat.
• Try to give priority to more fruits and veggies in your daily meal as these contain antioxidants that help to lower LDL.

Hyperlipidemia or hypertriglyceridemia: It is a condition in which there is a high level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or bad cholesterol and a decreased level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol. Increased level of bad cholesterol leads to a high risk of heart attack and stroke in the future, especially in patients with heart disease. There are two types of cholesterol, namely bad cholesterol and good cholesterol. Bad cholesterol comprises low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TG), while good cholesterol consists of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Usually, there are no specific symptoms of raised or high levels of cholesterol but a large deposition of cholesterol in the arteries (plaque) of the heart. Blocked artery or plaque formation in the arteries of the heart can lead to chest pain, heart attack, or stroke.