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In this Article

• What is lovastatin and niacin (Advicor)?
• What are the possible side effects of lovastatin and niacin (Advicor)?
• What is the most important information I should know about lovastatin and niacin (Advicor)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lovastatin and niacin (Advicor)?
• How should I take lovastatin and niacin (Advicor)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Advicor)?
• What happens if I overdose (Advicor)?
• What should I avoid while taking lovastatin and niacin (Advicor)?
• What other drugs will affect lovastatin and niacin (Advicor)?
• Where can I get more information?

What happens if I miss a dose (Advicor)?

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.

What happens if I overdose (Advicor)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include severe flushing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, dizziness, fainting, and uneven heartbeats.

What should I avoid while taking lovastatin and niacin (Advicor)?

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 (Advicor)?

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.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about lovastatin and niacin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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