Leqvio (inclisiran) is a prescription drug used to help treat certain types of high cholesterol. Leqvio comes in a prefilled syringe for injection under the skin.
If you have high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe Leqvio for you. Leqvio is used to help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in certain adults. (LDL is also known as “bad” cholesterol.)
Specifically, Leqvio is prescribed for adults with:
- heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic (inherited) condition that causes high cholesterol
- atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a form of heart disease that occurs when a buildup of cholesterol narrows your arteries
Your doctor will likely prescribe Leqvio with a statin drug and a balanced diet.
Leqvio may not be used in certain situations. To learn more, see the “What is Leqvio used for?” section.
Leqvio basics
Leqvio contains the active drug inclisiran. It’s given as an injection under your skin. Your doctor will give you the injection in their office.
Leqvio’s cost can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A Leqvio care program may be available.
You can also read more about saving money on prescriptions.
Like most drugs, Leqvio may cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists describe some of the more common side effects it may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that the side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Leqvio. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects Leqvio can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Leqvio’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Leqvio may include:
- mild injection site reactions, such as pain, warmth, rash, or skin discoloration
- pain in your arms, legs, or joints
- urinary tract infection (UTI)
- bronchitis (a type of lung infection)
- shortness of breath
- diarrhea
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Leqvio can occur, but they aren’t common.
In Leqvio’s studies, serious side effects included severe injection site reactions.
If you have serious side effects from Leqvio, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Allergic reaction
For some people, Leqvio can cause an allergic reaction.
This side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies, but there have been reports since Leqvio was approved for use.
What might help?
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep receiving Leqvio.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Leqvio, they may have you switch to a different treatment.
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Leqvio.
What is the difference between Repatha and Leqvio?
Leqvio and evolocumab (Repatha) are drugs that your doctor may prescribe to help lower your cholesterol. They work in slightly different ways.
Leqvio and Repatha are both used in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). This is a genetic (inherited) condition that causes high cholesterol.
Repatha may be prescribed to treat HeFH in children ages 10 years or older. Repatha is also used in adults and certain children with a slightly different genetic condition called homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). In addition, Repatha is approved to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with a certain type of heart disease.
Both drugs are given as an injection under your skin. You’ll receive Leqvio injections at your doctor’s office every 6 months (after the first two doses). Repatha injections are given once every 2 or 4 weeks, and your doctor can teach you how to give yourself these injections at home.
If you’d like to learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor. They can determine whether either treatment is right for you.
What is Leqvio’s mechanism of action (how does it work)?
Leqvio is used to help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in certain adults. (LDL is also known as “bad” cholesterol.) Leqvio works by helping cells in your liver to remove more LDL cholesterol from your blood.
Cells in your liver have special sites on their surface called LDL receptors. These receptors usually remove LDL cholesterol from your blood so it can be broken down in your liver. But the LDL receptors get destroyed by a protein made in your liver called PCSK9. Leqvio prevents your liver from making PCSK9.
Is Leqvio a statin?
No, Leqvio isn’t a statin. Statins are a group of drugs that lower cholesterol. They work in a different way than Leqvio.
Your doctor will usually prescribe Leqvio with a statin. These drugs work together to help lower your cholesterol even more.
If you have questions about taking Leqvio with a statin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Leqvio that’s right for you. Here are commonly used dosages, but your doctor will determine the Leqvio dose you receive.
Form and strength
Leqvio comes as a liquid inside a prefilled syringe. It’s available in one strength of 284 milligrams (mg) in 1.5 milliliters (mL) of solution. Each syringe contains a single dose. You’ll receive Leqvio as an injection under your skin at your doctor’s office.
Recommended dosing schedule
When you start treatment, your doctor will give you one injection. Then, 3 months later, they’ll give you a second injection. After this, you’ll receive one injection every 6 months.
Questions about Leqvio’s dosage
Here are some common questions about Leqvio’s dosage.
- What if I miss a dose of Leqvio? If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of Leqvio, call your doctor’s office right away to reschedule. If you receive your dose within 3 months of your missed appointment, you can continue with your usual treatment schedule. But if you miss a dose by more than 3 months, you’ll need to restart your treatment with two doses 3 months apart.
- Will I need to use Leqvio long term? Yes, Leqvio is meant as a long-term treatment. If it’s safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use Leqvio long term.
- How long does Leqvio take to work? Leqvio starts working right after your first dose. In studies, some people who took Leqvio had lower cholesterol levels 2 weeks after starting treatment.
Leqvio has two indications (the specific uses or conditions a drug treats).
Leqvio is used to help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in certain adults. (LDL is also known as “bad” cholesterol.) Specifically, Leqvio is prescribed for adults with:
- heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic (inherited) condition that causes high cholesterol
- atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a form of heart disease that occurs when your arteries are narrowed by a buildup of cholesterol
Your doctor will likely prescribe Leqvio with a statin drug and a balanced diet.
Note: Some cholesterol-lowering drugs have been proven to reduce the risk of death and certain complications of high cholesterol, such as heart attack and stroke. It’s not yet known if Leqvio reduces these same risks.
For this reason, your doctor likely will not prescribe Leqvio to reduce your risk of death or complications from high cholesterol. Instead, they may prescribe other cholesterol-lowering drugs with Leqvio to lower your risk.
Your doctor will explain how Leqvio will be administered. They’ll also explain how much you’ll be given and how often.
Receiving Leqvio
You’ll receive Leqvio as an injection under your skin in your doctor’s office. You’ll usually receive one injection of Leqvio at each appointment. Your first two appointments will be 3 months apart. After that, you’ll usually receive a dose once every 6 months.
You may receive Leqvio injections in your upper arm, thigh, or abdomen. Your doctor will avoid areas that have rashes, infections, or inflammation (swelling). They’ll also avoid damaged or sunburnt areas of skin.
Taking Leqvio with other drugs
You’ll likely take Leqvio with a statin drug to help lower your cholesterol. Examples of statins include:
- atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- rosuvastatin (Crestor, Ezallor Sprinkle)
- simvastatin (Zocor)
If you can’t take statins, your doctor may prescribe Leqvio with a different cholesterol-lowering drug, such as ezetimibe (Zetia).
Questions for your doctorYou may have questions about Leqvio and your treatment plan. It’s important to discuss all your concerns with your doctor.
Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion:
- Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
- How will Leqvio affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?
- Bring someone with you to your appointment if doing so will help you feel more comfortable.
- If you don’t understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you.
Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. And they want you to get the best care possible. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment.
Before you start treatment with Leqvio, you and your doctor will talk about what to expect from your treatment. You should also discuss your health, any medical conditions you have, and other medications you take. Your doctor can help determine whether Leqvio is a safe treatment option for you.
Interactions
Using a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.
Before taking Leqvio, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also discuss any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Leqvio.
For information about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings” section on this page.
Interactions with drugs or supplements
Leqvio isn’t known to interact with other drugs or supplements. But that doesn’t mean interactions with Leqvio won’t be recognized in the future. For example, new medications may be approved that interact with it.
For this reason, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking other drugs or supplements while you’re receiving Leqvio.
It’s important to note that you’ll likely take a statin drug with Leqvio. Several drugs and supplements can interact with statins. Talk with your doctor to learn more.
Warnings
Leqvio may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. These are known as drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether Leqvio is a good treatment option for you.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Leqvio. Factors to consider include those in the list that follows.
- Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Leqvio or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Leqvio. Ask them what other medications may be better options for you.
- Severe liver problems: Leqvio hasn’t been studied in people with severe liver problems. So it’s not known whether it’s safe or effective for people with this kind of condition. If you have a severe liver problem, talk with your doctor about whether Leqvio is right for you.
Leqvio and alcohol
Leqvio isn’t known to interact with alcohol. But you’ll likely be prescribed Leqvio along with a statin drug. And statins and alcohol may both affect your liver. In some cases, your doctor may recommend limiting your alcohol consumption if you take a statin.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much may be safe to drink while taking Leqvio with a statin.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Keep reading for details on Leqvio’s safety for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Pregnancy
It’s not known whether Leqvio is safe to take during pregnancy. The drug hasn’t been studied in people who are pregnant. A fetus needs cholesterol to develop, and because Leqvio lowers cholesterol, it could harm a fetus if taken during pregnancy. For this reason, doctors usually won’t prescribe Leqvio for someone who is pregnant.
If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your treatment options. If you become pregnant while using Leqvio, your doctor will likely recommend stopping your treatment.
Breastfeeding
It’s not known whether Leqvio is safe to use while breastfeeding. This is because it’s not known whether the drug passes into breast milk or can affect a child who is breastfed.
It’s important to note that you’ll likely be prescribed Leqvio along with a statin drug. Breastfeeding is not recommended if you take a statin. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your options.
If you have questions about taking Leqvio, talk with your doctor. They can discuss your treatment options and help you decide whether Leqvio is a good choice for you.
Examples of questions you might want to ask your doctor include:
- Why do I need to keep taking my statin with Leqvio?
- Will I need to keep using Leqvio after reaching my target cholesterol level?
- Does Leqvio have any long-term side effects?
- Can Leqvio affect my liver?
- Can I take Leqvio if I have diabetes?
Here are some articles about managing high cholesterol that you may find helpful:
- 6 Tips If You’re Starting Treatment for High Cholesterol
- Everything You Need to Know About High Cholesterol
- Alternatives to Statins for Lowering Cholesterol
To learn more about Leqvio, see these articles:
- Dosage Details for Leqvio
- Leqvio and Cost: What You Need to Know
- Side Effects of Leqvio: What You Need to Know
To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.
A:
No, it’s not likely that your doctor will prescribe Leqvio with evolocumab (Repatha) or alirocumab (Praluent) to reduce your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
The effect of using Leqvio with either of these drugs hasn’t been studied. It’s not known whether the combination would be safe or effective for lowering LDL cholesterol.
Repatha and Praluent belong to a group of cholesterol-lowering drugs called PCSK9 inhibitors. They lower cholesterol by blocking a protein in your body called PCSK9. Leqvio belongs to a different group of cholesterol drugs, but it works in a similar way. Leqvio lowers cholesterol by preventing your liver from making PCSK9.
If you use Repatha or Praluent, but it’s not lowering your cholesterol enough, your doctor may have you stop your current treatment and switch to Leqvio. Or if you’re currently prescribed Leqvio, but it’s not working for you, your doctor may recommend switching to one of these other drugs.
If you have questions about your treatment plan, talk with your doctor about your options.
The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.