Advicor
Information
Advicor Side Effects
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Primary Disease Name: Cholesterol
Primary Drug Name: Advicor
Chemical Drug Name: Lovastattin/Niacin
Advicor Information - What is Advicor?
Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) is a prescription drug for lowering
cholesterol. Advicor is a combination of two drugs, lovastatin and
niacin. For people with high cholesterol, Advicor cholesterol medication,
in combination with diet, can reduce Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol and triglycerides levels significantly. Patients treated
with lovastatin who require further TG-lowering or HDL-raising may
benefit from having niacin added to their regimen. Patients treated
with niacin who require further LDL-lowering may benefit from having
lovastatin added to their regimen.
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Advicor Side Effects
Advicor Side Effects: If you are prescribed Advicor
cholesterol medication, be sure to alert your doctor as soon as
possible if you have any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or
weakness. Advicor cholesterol medication is generally very well-tolerated.
The side effects reported most often are gas, stomach pain, indigestion,
and constipation. These Advicor side effects are usually mild and
temporary. DO NOT USE Advicor IF YOU ARE PREGNANT.
Other Possible Advicor Side Effects: Other possible
side effects may include: Allergic reaction, anxiety, chest pain,
chills, constipation, darkening of skin color, decreased sex drive,
difficulty sleeping, dizziness, dry mouth, dry skin, enlarged breasts
in men, eye irritation, fainting, gas, general feeling of unwellness,
gout, hair loss, heartbeat irregularities, hives, inflammation of
pancreas, impotence, joint pain, liver disorders, loss of appetite,
low blood pressure, memory loss, mental changes, migraine, muscle
cramps, muscle disorders, nerve disorders, runny nose, shortness
of breath, skin and nail changes, sweating, swelling, tingling,
tremor, ulcers, vertigo, vision disorders, yellowing of skin and
eyes.
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Advicor cholesterol medication Mechanism of Action
Advicor cholesterol medication works by blocking the enzyme HMG-Co
A Reducatse. This enzyme is required to make cholesterol in the
liver. Therefore, less cholesterol is made and the levels of cholesterol
in the blood decrease. By blocking this enzyme, Advicor cholesterol
medication also helps the liver to increase the breakdown of the
"bad" LDL cholesterol. Reduction of cholesterol levels in the blood
has been shown to reduce the risks associated with heart disease
such as heart attacks and strokes.
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Why is LDL Cholesterol "Bad"?
When too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, it can cause a heart attack or stroke. The levels of HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the blood are measured to evaluate the risk of having a heart attack. LDL cholesterol of less than 100 mg/dL (or total cholesterol levels of 4.7 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) is the optimal level. Less than 130 mg/dL (total cholesterol of 5.2 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) is near optimal for most people. A high LDL level (more than 160 mg/dL (6mmol/L) or 130 mg/dL (>5.2m/mol) or above if you have two or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease) reflects an increased risk of heart disease. That's why LDL cholesterol is often called "bad" cholesterol. Prescription drugs such as Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), and Lescol (fluvastatin) have been shown to interfere in the synthesis of LDL by blocking an enzyme that helps produce cholesterol in the body.
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Diet and Benefits of Advicor
Dietary intake of cholesterol includes the contribution of animal
fats found in red meat, cheese, cream and whole cream milk and from
cooking oils. Oils that possess a high concentration of saturated
fats such as palmitic oils (palm & cottonseed oils), stearic
oils (lards & dairy fats), myristic and lauric oils (coconut
and palm kernel oils & dairy fats) are known to contribute more
towards the development of heart disease as compared to the lower
saturated fat based oils such as those containing oleic acids (olive,
safflower & sunflower oils) and lioleic acids (Seed oils; grape
seed oil & walnut oil). Health care professionals discourage
the use of cooking oils that possess higher levels of saturated
fats (as these assist oxidation of LDL and foam cell formation).
In addition, animal fats are rich in saturated fatty acids that
promote the accumulation of cholesterol. Rich animal fats have an
inverse effect on the production of LDL receptors in the liver,
so the individual with a diet that is high in animal fat is increasing
the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Drugs such as the statins
(Lipitor, Advicor, Lescol, Crestor, Advicor, and Advicor) can help
to reduce the process of atherosclerosis by reducing LDL cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol is known as "the bad cholesterol." Excess
LDL builds up on your arteries (called a fatty streak) and may lead
to heart disease. The higher the level of LDL cholesterol, the higher
the risk for developing heart disease. Lowering elevated LDL cholesterol
can reduce the risk of heart attacks. Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin)
can help to reduce LDL cholesterol.
High-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, has earned the nickname
"the good cholesterol." That's because it is believed
to remove cholesterol from the blood. High levels of HDL in your
blood may help to reduce your risk of heart disease. A low level
can increase your risk of heart disease. Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin)
can help to increase HDL cholesterol.
Triglycerides are another type of fat in your bloodstream. Persons
with a high blood-triglyceride level have an increased risk of heart
disease. Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) helps to reduce triglyceride
levels.
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Why is HDL Cholesterol "Good"?
About one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol because a high level of it seems to protect against heart attack. (Low HDL cholesterol levels [less than 40 mg/dL] increase the risk for heart disease.) Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from plaque in arteries, thus slowing the buildup.
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Advicor Dose and Supply
Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) is available in three doses. Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) comes as a 20mg/500mg tablet, 40mg/500mg tablet, in Canada. Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) is usually recommended to be taken once daily at bedtime. As a cost saving measure, some patients cut a higher dosage of their Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) in half to save money. Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) can be taken with or without regards to meals.
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Advicor Storage
Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) should be stored away from direct sunlight and kept in a tightly closed container (vial) in order to prevent moisture from affecting the tablet stability.
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Advicor Cholesterol Medication Warnings
Advicor can cause liver problems. Your doctor will test your liver
function before you start taking this medication, then every 6 to
12 weeks for the first 6 months after you begin therapy, and every
6 months thereafter. If the tests reveal a problem, you may have
to stop taking Advicor. Individuals who regularly drink alcohol
or have a history of liver disease should use this drug with caution.
Avoid Advicor completely if you currently have liver disease.
The extended-release niacin in Advicor is not interchangeable with
immediate-release niacin. Substituting doses of extended release
niacin for immediate-release niacin can cause severe liver damage.
Drugs like Advicor may trigger a muscle-wasting condition that
also can affect the kidneys. The risk is increased if Advicor is
taken with certain drugs or grapefruit juice. Contact your doctor
immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness,
or weakness. You may have to stop taking Advicor. Use Advicor with
caution if you have kidney disease, gout, or the chest pain of angina.
Advicor may cause flushing. This side effect usually goes away
after taking the medication for several weeks. Flushing can be accompanied
by dizziness, fainting, heartbeat irregularities, chills, shortness
of breath, or swelling. Notify your doctor if you experience dizziness.
If you awaken because of flushing, rise slowly to avoid dizziness
and fainting. Taking aspirin or ibuprofen before taking Advicor
may help decrease the flushing. Avoid drinking alcohol or hot drinks
near the time you take Advicor; these can increase flushing.
If you have diabetes, Advicor may affect your blood sugar levels.
Tell your doctor if you note any changes.
Advicor can cause abnormalities in the blood. If you are scheduled
for surgery, your doctor will have you stop taking Advicor a few
days before the operation.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any nutritional supplements
that contain niacin.
Advicor is not recommended for children.
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Pregnant or Breastfeeding
Developing babies need plenty of cholesterol, so cholesterol-lowering drugs should never be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Advicor should be taken by women of childbearing age only if it is very unlikely that they will become pregnant. If you do become pregnant while taking Advicor, stop taking the medication immediately and contact your doctor.
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More Advicor Information
Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) has shown to be one of the most potent
cholesterol reducing drugs on the market. However, another agent
recently released on the market by Astra-Zeneca, CRESTOR (ROSUVASTATIN)
is shown to have higher potency. It is also possible to use a higher
dose of the older, less expensive cholesterol reducing agents to
get a similar effect to that of Advicor or CRESTOR. These drugs
include LIPITOR (ATORVASTATIN), MEVACOR, ALTOCOR, or Advicor (LOVASTATIN),
ZOCOR (SIMVASTATIN), LESCOL or LESCOL XL (FLUVASTATIN).
Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) is generally well tolerated and can
be taken with many other medicines. However, Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin)
may interact with certain other cholesterol-lowering drugs (e.g.
Lopid or gemfibrozol).
Advicor (Lovastatin/Niacin) may also interact with other medications
including some antibiotics, some antifungal medicines, and immunosuppressive
medications. Be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist about all
prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking.
Other Lipid lowering agents that are available and work differently
than the “statin” drugs include ZETIA (EZITIMIBE), LOPID
(GEMFIBROZOL), COLESTID (CHOLESTIPOL), TRICOR (FENOFIBRATE) and
QUESTRAN (CHOLESTYRAMINE).
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