Advicor - Lovastatin/niacin Extended-release - Oral Brand Drug

General Information

• Below is miscellaneous information regarding Advicor.
• Advicor
• LOW-vuh-stat-in/NYE-uh-sin

Possible Side Effects

• This medication may cause flushing and a feeling of warmth about the face and neck within the first two hours of taking a dose.
• These effects may last for one to two hours.
• Headache, dizziness, a fast heartbeat, redness/itching/tingling of the skin, or swelling of the arms/legs may occur as well.
• The frequency and intensity of these effects should subside after several weeks as your body adjusts to the medication.
• Stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhea may also occur.
• If these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
• Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur.

Advicor Miscellaneous Notes

• Do not share this medication with others.
• Laboratory and/or medical tests (for example, blood cholesterol levels, liver function tests) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
• Consult your doctor for more details.
• If you are diabetic, inform your doctor of any changes in blood sugar.
• For best results, this medication should be used along with exercise, a low-cholesterol/low-fat diet, and a weight loss program if you are overweight.
• Also to help reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes, check your blood pressure regularly, seek medical treatment if your blood pressure is high, and stop smoking.
• Consult your doctor for more details.

Overdose

• If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
• Symptoms of overdose may include.

Advicor Storage Instructions

• Store at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
• Do not store in the bathroom.
• Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

What To Do In Case Of Missed Dose

• If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember.
• If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
• Do not double the dose to catch up.

Drug Compatibility Recommendations

• See also the How To Use section.
• This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious, possibly fatal interactions may occur.

Medicinal Applications

• This combination medication is used along with a proper diet to help lower cholesterol and fats (triglycerides) in the blood.
• It combines lovastatin (an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor), also known as a "statin", and niacin which is a B-complex vitamin.
• In general, this product is prescribed after non-drug treatment options have not been fully successful at lowering cholesterol (for example, diet change, increase in exercise, weight loss if overweight).
• Reducing cholesterol and triglycerides help prevent strokes and heart attacks.

Read Before Using Advicor (precautions)

• This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
• Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have.

Usage Instructions

• If you are currently taking a long-acting form of niacin, your doctor can switch you to this combination product after you have reached your proper niacin dosage.
• If you are currently taking an immediate-release form of niacin, inform your doctor before switching to long-acting niacin.
• Doses of immediate-release and long-acting niacin are not equal.
• When switching to long-acting niacin, it is recommended that you use a low dose for several weeks so your body can adjust to the effects.
• This will also help to reduce the risk of an infrequent but severe liver side effect (fulminant hepatic necrosis).
• Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details, and follow dosing instructions carefully.
• Once you have reached your proper dose of long-acting niacin, your doctor may switch you to this combination product.
• If you have never taken niacin before, you need to first be treated with long-acting niacin (in gradually increasing dosage) before starting this combination lovastatin/niacin product.
• Take this medication by mouth usually once daily at bedtime with a low-fat snack, or as directed by your doctor.
• Taking the drug in this manner will increase its absorption and help reduce stomach upset.
• Swallow this medication whole.
• Do not crush, chew, or break the medication; this can destroy the long action of the drug and may increase side effects.
• Dosage is based on your medical condition, response to therapy, and use of certain interacting medicines.
• Many of the drugs listed in the Drug Interactions section may increase the chances of muscle injury when used with lovastatin/niacin.
• Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
• Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while being treated with this medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.
• Grapefruit juice can increase the amount of certain medications in your bloodstream.
• Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
• If you also take certain other drugs to lower your cholesterol (bile acid-binding resins such as cholestyramine or colestipol), allow at least 4 to 6 hours between taking those drugs and this product.
• Avoid drinking alcohol or hot drinks prior to taking this medicine to reduce the risk of an uncomfortable side effect caused by niacin (flushing).
• Taking non-enteric coated aspirin or an aspirin-like medication (for example, NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen) 30 minutes before taking this medicine may help reduce the risk of flushing.
• Consult your doctor for more information and before taking any aspirin or NSAID product.
• Do not stop using this medication unless instructed by your doctor.
• If you have stopped taking niacin for 7 days or more and are resuming treatment, it is recommended that you restart with the lowest dose of this drug before gradually increasing back up to your maintenance dose.
• Contact your doctor for further instructions.
• Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it.
• Remember to use it at the same time each day.
• It may take up to 4 weeks before the full benefit of this drug takes effect.
• It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well.
• Most people with high cholesterol or triglycerides do not feel sick.