What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Lovastatin and niacin
Lovastatin's FDA label of May 6, 2026 names niacin in its warnings section; niacin's label does not name lovastatin itself but warns about its class (Statins). The lovastatin label: “Other lipid-lowering drugs Caution should be used when prescribing other fibrates or lipid-lowering doses (≥1 g/day) of niacin with lovastatin, as these agents can cause myopathy when given alone.”
Check it at the source: the lovastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 2026, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.); the niacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 14, 2023, Aurobindo Pharma Limited).
What does the lovastatin label say about niacin?
Lovastatin label, warningsOther lipid-lowering drugs (other fibrates or ≥1 g/day of niacin) Caution should be used when prescribing other fibrates or lipid-lowering doses (≥1 g/day) of niacin with lovastatin, as these agents can cause myopathy when given alone.
Source: FDA drug label (Lovastatin), Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective May 6, 2026 (SPL set df7ddf4f-d569-431e-81f1-9129d7043150), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the niacin label say about lovastatin?
Niacin's label does not name lovastatin itself; it warns about its class (Statins):
Niacin label, drug interactionsCaution should be used when prescribing niacin with statins as these agents can increase risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis.
Niacin label, drug interactionsCaution should be used when prescribing niacin (≥1 gm/day) with statins as these drugs can increase risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis [see Warnings and Precautions (5) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Source: FDA drug label (Niacin), Aurobindo Pharma Limited, effective February 14, 2023 (SPL set 43233a21-3f90-4c69-bbeb-f50d5f2d35ae), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Lovastatin | Niacin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High cholesterol, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | High cholesterol, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, High triglycerides |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.0436 per tablet 20 mg tablet | $0.193 per tablet 500 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once