Advicor and Joint Pain

If joint pain develops while taking Advicor, there are temporary measures you can try to help alleviate the pain. A heating pad or cold packs, applied for 15 minutes at a time, may help reduce this side effect of Advicor. Joint pain may also be relieved through over-the-counter pain relief medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Does Advicor Cause Joint Pain?

It is not clear if joint pain is a side effect of Advicor® (niacin extended-release/lovastatin). In fact, clinical studies have not linked joint pain to Advicor. However, joint pain has been associated with lovastatin, one of the components in Advicor. In clinical studies, up to 0.5 to 1 percent of people taking lovastatin experienced joint pain. In rare cases, this can be a symptom of a serious allergic reaction to lovastatin.
 

Joint Pain With Advicor: Suggestions

If you are taking Advicor and joint pain becomes a problem, there are some things that you can try.
 These short-term relief suggestions include medications and heat/cold.
 
Medications
People taking Advicor who experience joint pain often benefit from using over-the-counter pain relief medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), aspirin, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®).
 
Heat/Cold
Moist heat (such as a warm bath or shower) or dry heat (such as a heating pad) placed on the painful area of the joint for about 15 minutes may relieve joint pain. In some cases, cold packs (a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel) can relieve pain or numb the sore area. If you have poor circulation, do not use cold packs. Water therapy in a heated pool or whirlpool may also relieve joint pain and stiffness.
 
(Advicor and Joint Pain Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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