Vytorin Dosage

Your doctor will prescribe your dose of Vytorin based on factors such as the condition being treated, your age, and your cholesterol goal. Although the recommended starting dosage for most people with high cholesterol is 10/20 mg daily, depending on whether your goals are reached or if side effects occur, your healthcare provider may adjust your dose accordingly. The average dose for people taking Vytorin is 10/10 mg to 10/80 mg daily.

Dosing With Vytorin: An Introduction

The dosage of Vytorin® (ezetimibe/simvastatin) your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • The medical condition you are being treated for
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you are currently taking (see Vytorin Drug Interactions)
  • Your cholesterol goal.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your Vytorin dose unless your healthcare provider specifically tells you to do so.
 

Vytorin Dosage for High Cholesterol

The recommended starting dose of Vytorin for most people with
 high cholesterol is 10/20 mg a day, taken with the evening meal.
 
After several weeks, your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you return to recheck your cholesterol levels. If you have not reached your cholesterol goal at this time, your healthcare provider may choose to increase your Vytorin dosage. The dosage can also be decreased if bothersome Vytorin side effects occur.
 
Some of the medications that interact with the simvastatin component of Vytorin in such a way as to require lower-than-usual dosages include:
 
 
(Click Vytorin Drug Interactions for more information.)
 
If you need to lower your cholesterol by only a small amount, or if you have severe kidney disease, a lower Vytorin dosage may be recommended.
 
Due to the increased risk of serious muscle problems at higher dosages, the maximum recommended dosage of the simvastatin component of this medication is 40 mg per day. However, people who have already been taking 80 mg daily for a year or more with no muscle problems may continue to take that dosage.
  
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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