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Side Effects of Laropiprant

The cholesterol-reducing prescription drug niacin/laropiprant, marketed by Merck Sharp & Dohme under the name Tredaptive in Europe (and Cordaptive in the U.S.), was approved for use in the European Union in 2008, according to the website Medical News Today. Although the drug's main side effect is flushing, a reddening of the face and neck, it was devised as an alternative to niacin-only drugs, which can elicit much more extreme flush reactions in patients.

  1. Significance

    • Niacin/laropiprant is most often prescribed for people with dyslipidemia, which is an unusual concentration of fat in the blood that includes elevated cholesterol and triglycerides levels. It is also indicated for individuals who simply have very high cholesterol levels. In general, the drug is best used in combination with cholesterol-blocking statin drugs, particularly when statins alone have proven inadequate.

    Effects

    • Niacin/laropiprant is effective in lowering LDL, or bad, cholesterol and raising HDL, or good, cholesterol in the blood. Blood fats known as triglycerides are also shown to decrease significantly with this medication. Triglycerides along with LDL and HDL cholesterol are all important for managing cardiovascular disease according to Ian Young, consultant in clinical biochemistry, Queen's University, Belfast.

    Considerations

    • Considered a combination extended-release drug, Niacin/laropiprant has proven to diminish the incidence of flushing when compared with the use of niacin alone, researchers report at the American College of Cardiology 57th Annual Scientific Session. Even when the dosage of niacin in the combination drug was equivalent to or greater than that of the niacin-only pill, the combination drug was tolerated far better.

    Flushing

    • Flushing--specifically of the head, neck and torso--is the most common side effect of niacin/laropiprant. In the flushing reaction, blood vessels are dilated, creating a sensation of warmth and outright heat in some cases, with an accompanied blushing of the skin. Some patients feel hot and appear beet red for up to 30 minutes. In the past, with niacin-only protocols, these unpleasant flushing reactions forced some patients to discontinue use of the medication at the recommended 2 g dose. That was considered the lowest maximum dosage for achieving the desired cholesterol-lowering effects, according to Doctor's Guide.

    Other Side Effects

    • Other reported side effects of niacin/laropiprant use include headache, dizziness, upset stomach, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, general skin redness, itching, and parasthesia (a numb or tingling feeling), according to Medical News Today. Also, the drug can increase blood sugar levels, so diabetics who take niacin/laropiprant require close monitoring.

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