GoodRx provides no warranty for (© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. Know the medicines you take. Because of this, there are limits to how much simvastatin and pravastatin is still safe with Nexletol. High LDL, or bad cholesterol, is one of the top risks for heart attacks and other problems. Nexletol is used for this purpose, and its approval gives providers a new tool in their toolbox. “It definitely made a difference,” Valant said. Patel, who was not involved in the research, estimated 10% to 15% of his patients might be eligible for Nexletol. Even though Nexletol is intended to be taken with a statin, there are some risks with two specific statins: simvastatin and pravastatin. Limitations of Use The effect of Nexletol on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined. Your provider may want to check your uric acid levels while you take Nexletol. It works by preventing your liver from producing cholesterol. Drive-Thru And Socially Distanced Holiday Lights Displays Around Boston: Locations, Dates & Prices, Massachusetts Travel Restrictions: Vermont Removed From Exempt List, Forget Bruce Arians: Antonio Brown Is The Problem For Tom Brady's Offense In Tampa Bay, 6 High School Students From Across U.S. ), By viewing our video content, you are accepting the terms of our. The new drug “would be valuable to add to treatment” for patients who can’t get their LDL down enough with existing drugs or can’t afford the injected ones, Duke Heart Center co-director Dr. Manesh Patel said. The company has a large study underway to see whether Nexletol can lower the risk of heart attacks and other problems, not just cholesterol. All Rights Reserved. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take or plan to take simvastatin or pravastatin (other cholesterol lowering medicines). Statins have been and continue to be the go-to treatment choice for high cholesterol because of how well they work to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease and death. Before taking NEXLETOL, tell your doctor if you take any of the following medicines: Get the best ways to save on your prescriptions delivered to your inbox. ©2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Other options include Zetia pills, also sold in generic form as ezetimibe for about $13 to $50 a month. This information is for informational purposes only and Copyright ©2020 GoodRx, Inc. In company-funded studies, common Nexletol side effects included high blood pressure and muscle and joint pain. In clinical trials, side effects while taking Nexletol were generally not common, but the more common ones included: It’s too soon to know if these side effects are due to Nexletol or not. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not take Nexletol because of possible harm to the baby, the FDA said. Nexletol is expected to be available in pharmacies beginning March 30, 2020, according to the manufacturer. Millions of people take cheap, generic statins, but the medicines don’t lower LDL cholesterol enough for many patients and others experience side effects such as muscle pain. ___ NEXLETOL and NEXLIZET are indicated as adjuncts to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who require additional lowering of LDL-C. For some people, though, statins aren’t able to lower cholesterol … Nexletol is estimated to cost about $10 per day. Michael Valant, 71, of League City, Texas, took Nexletol for about 19 months in one study. Ten days ago the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Nexletol (bempedoic acid), the first oral, non-statin drug targeting low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDC-C) in two …