Advicor

Name              Trade Name: Advicor 

                        Generic Name: Niacin/Lovastatin

Purpose          To decrease total cholesterol, LDL, & triglycerides, and raise HDL. 

Action             Advicor inhibits the production of cholesterol and triglycerides. It alsofacilitates the removal of LDL cholesterol from the blood. 

Dose    The recommended dosing range is 500mg/20mg – 2000mg/40mg orally at bedtime with some low-fat food.  In order to reduce “flushing” (i.e. warmth, redness, itching and/or tingling), we recommend you take an aspirin or ibuprofen 30 minutes before taking Advicor, enjoy a lowfat snack with a COLD non-alcoholic beverage, and then take Advicor at bedtime.  Do not crush, break, or chew Advicor or take it on an empty stomach or with grapefruit juice. Flushing may occur temporarily when you first start taking Advicor or when you first increase the dose. A gradual increase in dose helps decrease flushing.Week 1-4 Advicor 500mg/20mg       1 tablet at bedtime.Week 5-8 Advicor 500/20mg   2 tablets at bedtime.Week 9 and following:   Personalized dosing.Take only the dose prescribed for you. Do not substitute/change the dose of this medication without consulting the Lipid Clinic. 

You should not take Advicor if any of the following apply:

You are hypersensitive to Niacin or Lovastatin.  You have active liver disease, unexplained elevated liver enzymes, uncontrolled Diabetes, or active Peptic Ulcer disease.   You take Erythromycin-type antibiotics (eg. Ery-tab, E-Mycin, or Biaxin), the immunosuppressant Cyclosporine (eg. Sandimmune or Neoral), azole-type antifungal drugs (eg. Sporanox, Diflucan, or Nizoral), the antidepressant Serzone (Nefazodone), or HIV protease inhibitors  Patients with gout should exercise caution when taking Advicor. You should be cautious about taking Advicor with Lopid (Gemfibrozil) or Tricor; combinations of these medications may be prescribed with careful monitoring.

Possible side effects:  Call the Lipid clinic or your doctor if you experience:blurred vision, muscle/joint aches, headaches, or dizziness. Report muscle pain, tenderness, or brown urine to us immediately, particularly if accompanied by fever and/or weakness. Please notify us if you are taking vitamins/supplements that contain more than 100mg of niacin. 

Lab tests:  In addition to a lipid profile, the blood tests AST and ALT will be done periodically to help assess liver function.

Special instructions:  Avoid alcohol, especially around the time of AdvicorHave lab test done promptly.If you are taking Coumadin, prothrombin times should be monitored closely. 

PRECAUTION:  Women capable of childbearing must have a pregnancy test (serum HCG)before starting this medication. This is a category X drug and not recommended for use during pregnancy or lactation.

Ver 10.