What is lovastatin and niacin?
Lovastatin is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol
(a type of fat) in the body.
Niacin, also called nicotinic acid, is a B vitamin (vitamin B3). It occurs naturally in
plants and animals, and is also added to many foods as a vitamin supplement. Niacin is also
present in many multiple vitamins and nutritional supplements.
The combination of lovastatin and niacin is used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides
(types of fat) in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol and triglycerides can help prevent heart
disease and coronary artery disease (also called atherosclerosis), conditions that can lead to heart
attack, stroke, and vascular disease.
This medication is also used to lower the risk of heart attack in people with high
cholesterol who have already had a heart attack.
Lovastatin and niacin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lovastatin and niacin?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to lovastatin or niacin, or if
you have:
Before taking lovastatin and niacin, tell your doctor if you are allergic
to any drugs, or if you have:
-
diabetes;
-
underactive thyroid;
-
kidney disease; or
-
if you are also taking amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take lovastatin and niacin.
In rare cases, lovastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of
skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you
have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark
colored urine.
FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects.
Do not
use
lovastatin and niacin if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become
pregnant during treatment. Use effective birth control while you are using this medication.
It is not known whether lovastatin and niacin passes into breast milk or if it could
harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take lovastatin and niacin?
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger
amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from
this medication.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Lovastatin and niacin is usually taken at bedtime with a low-fat snack. Follow your
doctor's instructions.
Do not crush, chew, or break a lovastatin and niacin tablet. Swallow the pill whole.
The niacin ingredient in this pill is an extended-release form. Breaking or crushing the pill may
cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Niacin can cause certain side effects, such as flushing (warmth, itching, redness, or tingly
feeling under your skin). These effects can be made worse if you drink alcohol or hot beverages
shortly after you take lovastatin and niacin. These effects should disappear over time as you keep
taking the medication.
Lovastatin and niacin can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests.
Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using lovastatin and niacin.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your liver function will need to
be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
If you stop taking lovastatin and niacin for longer than 7 days in a row, talk with your
doctor before restarting the medication. You may need to start with a lower dose.
Lovastatin and niacin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes
diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very
closely.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of lovastatin and niacin?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose,
wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not
take extra
medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about lovastatin and niacin?
Your pharmacist has information about lovastatin and niacin written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of lovastatin and niacin?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these
serious side effects:
-
muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever or flu symptoms
and dark colored urine;
-
feeling like you might pass out;
-
fast or pounding heartbeats; or
-
feeling short of breath.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin;
-
sweating or chills;
-
swelling;
-
headache, weakness;
-
stomach or back pain;
-
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; or
-
itching or rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about lovastatin and niacin?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to lovastatin or niacin, if you
are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease, a stomach ulcer, or active bleeding.
Niacin can cause certain side effects, such as flushing (warmth, itching, redness, or tingly
feeling under your skin). These effects can be made worse if you drink alcohol or hot beverages
shortly after you take lovastatin and niacin. These effects should disappear over time as you keep
taking the medication.
In rare cases, lovastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of
skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you
have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark
colored urine.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your liver function will need to
be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
If you stop taking lovastatin and niacin for longer than 7 days in a row, talk with your
doctor before restarting the medication. You may need to start with a lower dose.
What should I avoid while taking lovastatin and niacin?
Avoid taking cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid) within 4 hours
before or after you take lovastatin and niacin.
Avoid drinking hot beverages shortly after taking lovastatin and niacin. Hot drinks can
worsen niacin's flushing effect (warmth, itching, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin).
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking lovastatin and niacin. Alcohol may increase
your risk of liver damage, and can also worsen the flushing effects of niacin.
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Lovastatin and niacin will not be as
effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with lovastatin and niacin and lead to
potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not
increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your
doctor.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up
slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
What other drugs will affect lovastatin and niacin?
Before taking lovastatin and niacin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following
medicines:
-
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral);
-
danazol;
-
gemfibrozil (Lopid);
-
fenofibrate (Tricor);
-
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
-
niacin, nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide (or vitamin
supplements that contain niacin);
-
other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as cholestyramine
(Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
-
antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin
(E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), telithromycin (Ketek), fluconazole (Diflucan),
itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Nizoral); or
-
HIV /AIDS medicine such as amprenavir (Agenerase),
indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir (Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), or saquinavir
(Invirase, Fortovase).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with lovastatin and niacin. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter
medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not
start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of lovastatin and niacin?