Common Niacin Extended-Release/Lovastatin Side Effects
Niacin extended-release/lovastatin has been studied in clinical trials, with hundreds of people having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects were documented and compared to side effects that occurred in a similar group of people taking either
lovastatin or extended-release
niacin alone (rather than the combination of the two).
- Flushing -- in up to 71 percent of people
- Infection -- up to 20 percent
- Headaches -- up to 9 percent
- Pain -- up to 8 percent
- Nausea -- up to 7 percent.
Other commonly reported side effects (occurring in 3 to 6 percent of people) included:
- Vomiting
- High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
- General feeling of weakness (asthenia)
- Flu
- Back pain
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion (dyspepsia)
- Nausea
- Itchy skin
- Unexplained rash
- Muscle pain (see Advicor and Muscle Pain).
Niacin Extended-Release/Lovastatin and Tumors
The niacin component of this combination medication has not been associated with cancer or tumors. However, the lovastatin component has been shown to increase the risk of several different types of tumors or cancer in laboratory animals. However,
statin medications (like lovastatin) have not been linked to cancer in humans; in fact, several researchers believe that statins might actually help prevent cancer.
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