Niacin and lovastatin (Oral)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 6, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Advicor

Pharmacologic Class: Vitamin B (class)

Chemical Class: Nicotinic Acid (class)

Uses for niacin and lovastatin

Niacin and lovastatin combination is used together with a proper diet to help lower cholesterol and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood. Niacin and lovastatin may help prevent medical problems (eg, heart attacks, stroke) that are caused by fat clogging the blood vessels.

Niacin and lovastatin combination medicine is a combination of two drugs that work together to lower cholesterol and lipid (fat) disorders. Niacin is vitamin B3, which reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Lovastatin belongs to the group of medicines called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins. It works to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood by blocking an enzyme that is needed to make cholesterol.

Niacin and lovastatin was available only with your doctor's prescription. The Advicor(R) product will no longer be marketed in the United States as of April 18, 2016.

Before using niacin and lovastatin

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For niacin and lovastatin, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to niacin and lovastatin or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

The use of niacin and lovastatin combination is not recommended in children.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of niacin and lovastatin combination in the elderly.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using niacin and lovastatin.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking niacin and lovastatin, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using niacin and lovastatin with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Amprenavir
• Atazanavir
• Boceprevir
• Clarithromycin
• Cobicistat
• Darunavir
• Erythromycin
• Fosamprenavir
• Idelalisib
• Indinavir
• Itraconazole
• Ketoconazole
• Levoketoconazole
• Lopinavir
• Mibefradil
• Mifepristone
• Nefazodone
• Nelfinavir
• Nirmatre...