Are you trying to figure out what to do if you vomit after taking your cholesterol medication?
Yes?! Then you’re in the right spot, but before we get started, I just wanted to say I’m sorry you’re not feeling well!
Ok, so there’s always some confusion on whether one should take their medication again after vomiting. Some medications require a little more thought than others when trying to determine the best course in such a situation. However, cholesterol medications are not one of them!
Good news, right?!
If I were you, I would NOT take my cholesterol medication again, no matter how much time has gone by, and this is especially true with the statin medications.
How did I come to this conclusion?
Well, your cholesterol level will not change after just one dose of your medication, so you certainly won’t feel differently after missing a dose, unlike how you might feel if you miss a dose of your blood pressure medication.
Also, it takes more than a few days for plaque build-up to harden your arteries, which is what your cholesterol-lowering medications are trying to prevent. However, please keep in mind it’s this hardening of the arteries that can lead to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, so no, it’s not a good idea to miss doses on a regular basis. We’re strictly talking about a possible missed dose if you vomited too soon after taking your medication!
As with all medications, the higher the dose, the more likely you are going to experience adverse effects. If you took your cholesterol-lowering medication and then vomited at some point after the dose, you have no idea how much of the medication your body has already absorbed. By taking a second dose, you may be getting extra amounts of the drug in your bloodstream, which in turn, would increase your chances of experiencing adverse effects.
Since missing one dose will not have any effect on your cholesterol levels, you might as well NOT redose your cholesterol-lowering medication so you can avoid any chance of adverse effects!
I point out the statin medications specifically because they come with the most safety concerns, such as muscle pain or weakness, rhabdomyolysis, and liver toxicity, to name a few.
Does this all make sense? If not, please leave a comment below or email me at cate@getpharmacyadvice.com so I can clear up any confusion!
Also, since you’re here, grab this FREE Pharmacy Discount Card by clicking on the link.
Okay guys, have a great day!
Cheers,
Cate