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How to Take VIMOVO

VIMOVO is a twice-a-day prescription medicine. Taking one VIMOVO pill at night and one pill the next morning can help reduce the pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Taking twice-daily VIMOVO
Taking VIMOVO with low-dose aspirin
Following your doctor's instructions

Taking twice-daily VIMOVO

Taking VIMOVO with low-dose aspirin

If you take low-dose aspirin for your heart, and also need to take an NSAID, VIMOVO may be a good option for you and your doctor to consider.

However, it’s important to be aware that all prescription NSAIDs, including VIMOVO, may increase the chance of heart attack or stroke, which can lead to death. Taking low-dose aspirin may not reduce this risk, and you should never use VIMOVO as a substitute for aspirin in preventing heart attack or stroke. Taking aspirin and an NSAID may increase your risk of side effects, including serious ones.

Following your doctor’s instructions

Take VIMOVO exactly as your doctor tells you to take it
Take VIMOVO at least 30 minutes before a meal
Swallow VIMOVO tablets whole with liquid. Do not split, chew, crush, or dissolve the VIMOVO tablet. Tell your doctor if you cannot swallow the tablet whole—you may need a different medicine
Your doctor may tell you to take vitamin D and calcium supplements during treatment with VIMOVO
Your doctor will tell you how many VIMOVO tablets to take and when to take them
Do not change your dose or stop VIMOVO without first talking to your doctor
You may use antacids while taking VIMOVO
If you forget to take a dose of VIMOVO, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Take the next dose on time. Do not take two doses at one time to make up for a missed dose
If you take more VIMOVO than your doctor recommends, tell your doctor, call your Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222, or go to the closest hospital emergency room right away. Symptoms of taking too much VIMOVO may include: feeling weak and tired, dizziness, feeling sleepy, upper stomach-area pain or discomfort, heartburn, indigestion or nausea, a change in breathing or stopping breathing, vomiting, bleeding, movements of a body part that you cannot control, coordination problems, and decreased movement

Next: Side Effects of VIMOVO

Important Safety Information:

Like all medications that contain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), VIMOVO may increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This chance increases

With longer use of NSAID medicines

In people who have heart disease

See additional Important Safety Information below.

How does arthritis affect the joints?

See an overview of different types of arthritis and how each type affects the joints. Read more

Side effects of VIMOVO

Learn more about the side effects and Important Safety Information for VIMOVO.
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Important Safety Information

Like all medications that contain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), VIMOVO may increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This chance increases
- With longer use of NSAID medicines
- In people who have heart disease
NSAID-containing medications, such as VIMOVO, should never be used before or after a type of heart surgery called coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
As with all medications that contain NSAIDs, VIMOVO may increase the chance of stomach and intestinal problems, such as bleeding or an ulcer, which can occur without warning and may cause death
- Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinal events

VIMOVO is not right for everyone, including patients who have had an asthma attack, hives, or other allergic reaction with aspirin or any other NSAID medicine, patients who are allergic to any of the ingredients in VIMOVO, or women in late stages of pregnancy.

Serious allergic reactions, including skin reactions, can occur without warning and can be life-threatening; discontinue use of VIMOVO at the first appearance of a skin rash, or if you develop sudden wheezing; swelling of the lips, tongue or throat; fainting; or problems swallowing.

VIMOVO should be used at the lowest dose and for the shortest amount of time as directed by your health care provider.

Tell your health care provider right away if you develop signs of active bleeding from any source.

VIMOVO can lead to onset of new hypertension or worsening of existing high blood pressure, either of which may contribute to an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Speak with your health care provider before starting VIMOVO if you

Have a history of ulcers or bleeding in the stomach or intestines
Have heart problems, high blood pressure, or are taking high blood pressure medications
Have kidney or liver problems

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take, prescription and non-prescription drugs, including clopidogrel, vitamins and herbal supplements. VIMOVO may affect how other medicines work and other medicines may affect how VIMOVO works.

VIMOVO may increase your risk of getting severe diarrhea. Call your doctor right away if you have watery stool, stomach pain, and fever that does not go away.

Talk to your health care provider about your risk for bone fractures if you take VIMOVO for a long period of time.

Talk to your health care provider about your risk for developing low levels of magnesium if you take VIMOVO for a long period of time.

The most common side effects of VIMOVO include: inflammation of the lining of the stomach, indigestion, diarrhea, stomach ulcers, abdominal pain, and nausea.

Approved Uses for VIMOVO

VIMOVO is approved to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis and to decrease the risk of stomach (gastric) ulcers in patients at risk of developing stomach ulcers from treatment with NSAIDs.

VIMOVO is not recommended as a starting treatment for relief of acute pain. Controlled studies do not extend beyond 6 months.

Click here for the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS, with Medication Guide.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

This product information is intended for US consumers only.

VIMOVO is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.