Vascepa dosage

Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to:

• decrease the risk of cardiovascular problems (such as stroke, heart attack, or unstable angina that requires hospitalization) in certain adults with high triglyceride levels. In this case, Vascepa should be taken along with a statin drug.
• reduce triglyceride levels in adults with severely high triglyceride levels, when used along with diet changes

Vascepa comes as a capsule that you take by mouth. It belongs to a group of drugs called lipid-lowering drugs.

Vascepa is available in a brand-name and generic form. The generic form of Vascepa is called icosapent ethyl. This is a type of eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA.

Dosage summary

The following chart summarizes Vascepa’s dosage. Your doctor will determine the dosage that’s best for you.

For information about the dosage of Vascepa, including its strengths and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Vascepa, see this article.

Your doctor will recommend the best dosage of Vascepa for you to take. Below is some information about the usual recommended dosages for Vascepa.

Vascepa form

Vascepa comes as a capsule that you take by mouth.

Vascepa strengths

Vascepa comes in two strengths: 0.5 grams (g) and 1 g.

Typical dosages

Most people taking Vascepa will take the same dose of the medication regardless of the formulation you’re prescribed. But your doctor will recommend the amount and frequency that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to follow dosage instructions your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for reducing risk of cardiovascular problems

The recommended dosage of Vascepa for reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems is 4 g per day. This dose should be split into two daily doses of either:

• four 0.5 g capsules taken twice daily with food
• two 1 g capsules taken twice daily with food

Dosage for lowering triglyceride levels

The usual starting dose of Vascepa to lower high triglyceride levels is 4 g per day. This is also the Vascepa daily dosage, which should be split into two daily doses of either:

• four 0.5 g capsules taken twice daily with food
• two 1 g capsules taken twice daily with food

Long-term treatment

Vascepa is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Vascepa is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

You may have some additional questions about the dosage of Vascepa. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.

What’s the recommended dosage for the Vascepa 1-gram capsule?

The recommended dosage of Vascepa when you take the 1-gram (g) capsule is to take 2 capsules by mouth twice per day. Your total daily dose of Vascepa should be 4 g (4 capsules).

If you have questions about your dose of Vascepa, talk with your doctor. They can help determine the best dose of Vascepa for you.

Does Vascepa have vitamin D in it?

No, Vascepa does not have vitamin D in it.

However, in some cases, supplements used to reduce high triglyceride levels, such as fish oil supplements, may have vitamin D in them.

If you’re interested in taking vitamin D, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help determine the best strength of vitamin D for you to take.

You’ll typically take your dose of Vascepa twice per day by mouth. If you’re taking the 0.5 gram (g) capsules, you’ll take 4 capsules twice daily. If you take the 1 g capsules, you’ll only need to take 2 capsules twice daily.

You should take your dose of Vascepa with food. Swallow your Vascepa capsule whole. Do not break, open, crush, chew, or dissolve Vascepa capsules.

It may be helpful to take Vascepa around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Vascepa can work effectively.

If you have trouble swallowing capsules, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

If you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Vascepa in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

If you miss your dose of Vascepa, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as usual. Do not take two doses together to make up for the missed dose. And do not take extra doses to make up for the missed dose.

If you missed a dose of Vascepa and you have questions about when to take your next dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help you determine when to take your next dose.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

It’s important that you don’t use more Vascepa than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.

If you take more than the recommended amount of Vascepa

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Vascepa. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Vascepa for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Vascepa without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Vascepa that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Vascepa. These additional articles might be helpful to you:

• More about Vascepa. For information about other aspects of Vascepa, refer to this article.
• Drug comparison. To find out how Vascepa treatment compares with taking fish oil, see this article.
• Details about your condition. For details about the conditions that Vascepa treats, see our cardiovascular health hub and these related articles.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.