Leqvio
Leqvio (inclisiran) is an injectable medication used to treat high cholesterol in adults. It's used together with a statin and with a heart-healthy diet. Leqvio (inclisiran) works as a small interfering RNA (siRNA) to help lower cholesterol. It's given as an injection under your skin and it must be given by a healthcare professional. After the first two starter doses, the injection is given twice a year. Side effects aren't common. But they can include joint pain and reactions at the injection site like pain and redness.
What is Leqvio (inclisiran)?
What is Leqvio (inclisiran) used for?
- High cholesterol, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), in adults - as an add-on to a heart-healthy diet and statin therapy
How Leqvio (inclisiran) works
Leqvio (inclisiran) belongs to the drug class called small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Once injected, the medication gets absorbed into your liver. In the liver cells, the medication works to break down the gene that helps make a protein called PCSK9. Normally, PCSK9 helps adjust the amount of cholesterol in your body.
By breaking down this gene, Leqvio (inclisiran) stops your liver from making PCSK9. It helps your liver get rid of more "bad" cholesterol (LDL, or low-density lipoprotein) from your blood.
Drug facts
Side effects of Leqvio (inclisiran)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Injection site reactions (e.g., pain, redness, rash; 8%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Joint pain
- Bronchitis
The following Leqvio (inclisiran) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Pros and cons of Leqvio (inclisiran)
Pros
- Helps lower "bad" cholesterol by about 50% when used with a statin
- Given twice a year (after two starter doses)
- Few side effects
Cons
- Must be given as an injection under the skin by a healthcare professional at their clinic
- Must be used with statin therapy
- Doesn't replace having a balanced diet and regular exercise plan to help lower cholesterol levels
Pharmacist tips for Leqvio (inclisiran)
- Write down your appointments for Leqvio (inclisiran) on your calendar. This will help you remember when to get your injections and not miss any doses.
- If you miss an appointment by less than 3 months, call the medical office to reschedule and get Leqvio (inclisiran) as soon as possible. Afterwards, you can continue your usual dosing schedule. But if you miss your appointment by more than 3 months, you'll have to restart a new dosing schedule. This means taking the medication every 3 months for 2 doses, and then every 6 months after that.
- During your appointment, a healthcare professional will give you your Leqvio (inclisiran) injection under your skin. They'll pick a spot on your stomach, upper arm, or thigh. They'll be careful not to give the injection where your skin is damaged to prevent irritation. This includes areas with sunburns, inflammation, infection, or rash.
- Sometimes, the area where you got your Leqvio (inclisiran) injection can hurt or get red a few hours afterwards. These injection site reactions should go away on their own after a day or two. But in the meantime, you can use a cold pack to help. Tell your care team if these reactions get worse or don't go away after a couple days.
- Be sure you get any blood work that your prescriber asks for while you're taking Leqvio (inclisiran). This helps them check your cholesterol levels. They want to make sure your treatment plan is working well for you.
- Keep following a heart-healthy diet and get enough exercise while taking Leqvio (inclisiran). Eating healthy and exercising will also help lower your cholesterol levels.
Common questions about Leqvio (inclisiran)
No, Leqvio (inclisiran) isn't a statin. Instead, it's a type of medication called a small interfering RNA (siRNA). Leqvio (inclisiran) and statins both help lower "bad" cholesterol (LDL, or low-density lipoprotein). But they work in different ways. Leqvio (inclisiran) helps your liver get rid of cholesterol from your blood. Statins work by stopping your liver from making cholesterol. Leqvio (inclisiran) is used together with a statin. This is helpful for people with cholesterol levels that are still high even with a statin.
Injection site reactions, like pain or redness, are the most commonly reported side effect of Leqvio (inclisiran). If this happens, it usually only lasts for a day or two. Tell your care team if any reactions are the injection site don't get better after a couple days or if they get worse. Also let them know if you have any other side effects from the medication that bother you. They can check what's going on and help you.
Leqvio (inclisiran) itself doesn't seem to make people gain or lose weight. But the medication is usually taken with a statin. A large study in 2014 found that people who took statins for a long time (about 10 years) gained some weight. This might've been caused by changes in their diet. It's important to remember to follow healthy habits to help lower cholesterol. This includes eating foods that are good for your heart and exercising regularly. It'll help you get the most out of your cholesterol treatment plan. What's more, it'll help you keep your weight healthy. If you notice your weight changing a lot, talk to your primary care provider.
Leqvio (inclisiran) is FDA approved to be taken with a statin to treat high cholesterol. But some studies show Leqvio (inclisiran) can also lower cholesterol even if you don't take it with a statin. Taking Leqvio (inclisiran) by itself might be an option for some people. This could be for people who have side effects from statins that bother them too much. It could also be for people who can't take statins for safety reasons. Talk to your prescriber to find out if taking Leqvio (inclisiran) without a statin is right for you.
Leqvio (inclisiran) and Repatha (evolocumab) are both medications that can treat high cholesterol when statins aren't enough. They both lower cholesterol by stopping a protein called PCSK9 from doing its job in the body. But they do this in different ways. Leqvio works by breaking down the gene that makes PCSK9 so that the body can't make as much of the protein. Repatha blocks the PCSK9 protein itself after it's already made. Both medications are injections given under the skin. You can give yourself Repatha injections at home every 2 or 4 weeks. But for Leqvio, a healthcare professional needs to give the injection every 3 months for the first 2 doses and then every 6 months after that. Talk to your prescriber to compare the medications and see which is best for you.
In studies, people's cholesterol levels went down by about 50% after about 3 months of taking Leqvio (inclisiran) with a statin. This 50% reduction generally stayed consistent as they took both medications together for about 1.5 years. Be sure to get your cholesterol tests done when your prescriber asks. This helps check how well treatment is working for you. Ask your prescriber if you have more questions about your progress.
Leqvio (inclisiran) isn't recommended if you're pregnant. It isn't known if the medication is safe during pregnancy. Let your prescriber know if you're pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant. They can talk to you about your options if you need to manage your cholesterol.
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Leqvio (inclisiran) dosage
Typical dosage for Leqvio (inclisiran)
The medication is given as an injection under the skin by a healthcare professional. It's injected into your stomach, thigh, or upper arm.
The typical dose is 284 mg injected under the skin every 3 months for 2 doses, then every 6 months after that.
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