What is NEXLETOL prescribed for?
Nexletol is approved to help decrease LDL cholesterol in adults with heart disease or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).
What is the name of the drug and what does it do?
NEXLETOL, pronounced NEX-le-tol, (generic name: bempedoic acid) is a prescription medicine originally used to help reduce the risk of heart attacks and certain heart-related procedures in adults.
The FDA has now also approved it for managing high cholesterol, making it especially valuable for people who cannot take statins.
Statins are common medications used to lower cholesterol by reducing the production of cholesterol in the liver.
NEXLETOL focuses on low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol), which can raise the risk of heart disease and stroke.
This makes it an important option for treating individuals with primary hyperlipidemia, a condition of high blood fats, or genetic disorders like heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), which causes extremely high cholesterol levels from birth.
How does it work?
NEXLETOL suppresses a specific enzyme in the liver called ATP citrate lyase (ACL), which is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in producing cholesterol and fats in your body.
This enzyme is involved in the early stages of cholesterol production. By blocking this enzyme, NEXLETOL reduces the production of cholesterol in the liver.
This decrease in cholesterol production helps lower the levels of LDL cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream.
What did the research discover?
Extensive clinical trials have demonstrated that NEXLETOL significantly lowers LDL cholesterol levels in adults.
It is especially effective for individuals who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease or who already have established cardiovascular conditions.
Research has shown that when added to a patient’s current treatment regimen, NEXLETOL can further reduce the risk of heart attacks and the necessity for heart surgeries like stents or bypass operations.
What are some of the side effects?
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Muscle spasms
- Increased levels of uric acid, which can lead to gout
- Back pain, abdominal pain, or discomfort
- Bronchitis and pain in extremities
- Anemia and elevated liver enzymes(an indication that your liver may be stressed or damaged)
What are the dosage recommendations and how is it prescribed?
The recommended dosage of NEXLETOL is 180 mg taken orally once daily, with or without food.
After starting NEXLETOL, it’s important for patients to have their cholesterol levels checked within 8 to 12 weeks to assess the medication’s effectiveness and adjust the dosage if necessary.
Source
- Highlights of Prescribing Information for NEXLETOL (bempedoic acid). Available from:https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2024/211616s012s013lbl.pdf Accessed 16 July 2024.
