| Management |
Caution is advised if lomitapide is prescribed in combination with other potentially hepatotoxic agents such as tolvaptan. Patients should have serum ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin measured prior to initiation of treatment and regularly during treatment in accordance with the product labeling, and the dosing adjusted or interrupted as necessary. Since alcohol may increase levels of hepatic fat and induce or exacerbate liver injury, the manufacturer recommends that patients taking lomitapide not consume more than one alcoholic drink per day. Patients should be advised to seek medical attention if they experience potential signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity such as fever, rash, itching, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, malaise, right upper quadrant pain, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice. Serum sodium concentration and neurologic status should be closely monitored, and the tolvaptan dosage adjusted accordingly. Too rapid correction of hyponatremia increases the risk of osmotic demyelination syndrome, which is associated with dysarthria, mutism, dysphagia, lethargy, affective changes, spastic quadriparesis, seizures, coma, and death. |
