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Advicor Generic name is Lovastatin and Niacin. Advicor is a cholesterol-lowering drug. Advicor lowers total cholesterol and LDL (”bad”) cholesterol, while raising the amount of HDL (”good”) cholesterol. Advicor is a combination of two cholesterol-fighting ingredients premary is extended-release niacin and last is lovastatin (Mevacor). It is prescribed only when other drugs and a program of diet, exercise, and weight reduction have been unsuccessful in lowering cholesterol levels. Cholesterol in the bloodstream can lead to hardening of the arteries and heart disease. Advicor mostly symptoms of high cholesterol, it is important to take Advicor every day. Advicor may cause flushing. This side effect usually goes away after taking Advicor for several weeks.

Advicor will be more effective if it is taken as part of a program of diet, exercise, and weight loss.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. All these efforts keep your cholesterol levels normal and lower your risk of heart disease. Advicor should be administered at bedtime since there is evidence that at least some drugs in the same class as lovastatin lower cholesterol more when taken at night than in the morning. If Advicor causes nausea. Flushing can be accompanied by dizziness, fainting, heartbeat irregularities, chills, shortness of breath, or swelling. Notify your doctor if you experience dizziness.

How to use

• 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.
• Nnon-drug treatment options have not been fully successful at lowering cholesterol (e.g., diet change, increase in exercise, weight loss if overweight).
• Doses can be increased by 500 mg of niacin every 4 weeks based on the response of the blood cholesterol level.
• Advicor is discontinued for longer than 7 days, therapy should be resumed at the lowest dose.
• Advicor should be administered at bedtime since there is evidence that at least some drugs.

Side Effects

• Abdominal pain,
• Back pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Flushing.
• Headache.
• High blood sugar.
• Indigestion.
• Infection.
• Itching.
• Muscle pain.
• Nausea.
• Rash.
• Vomiting.
• Weakness.

Precautions

• Before taking lovastatin/niacin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it and other statins.
• Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially muscle damage.
• This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
• Limit alcoholic beverages. Daily use of alcohol may increase your chance for serious side effects.
• Use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery.

Interactions

• This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious mostly certain azole antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole), (e.g., ritonavir, amprenavir, lopinavir), certain macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin, clarithromycin, troleandomycin).
• Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: azithromycin, “blood thinners”.

Overdose

• Symptoms of overdose may include: fainting or irregular heartbeat.
• Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.
• Contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

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