Nexlizet (bempedoic acid/ezetimibe) can cause side effects ranging from mild to serious. Examples include mouth pain, constipation, and urinary tract infection (UTI).

Nexlizet is prescribed for adults with certain conditions to lower:

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their Nexlizet treatment. Examples of the drug’s commonly reported side effects include:

  • UTI
  • back pain
  • constipation
  • inflammation of the nasal (nose) passages and throat

Mild side effects have been reported with Nexlizet. These include:

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Nexlizet unless your doctor recommends it.

Nexlizet may cause mild side effects other than those listed here. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

* An allergic reaction is possible after taking Nexlizet, but this side effect was not reported in studies of the drug.

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Serious side effects have been reported with Nexlizet. These include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking Nexlizet, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you have a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Nexlizet and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section.

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Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Nexlizet’s side effects.

Can Nexlizet cause weight gain or weight loss?

No, this isn’t likely. Weight changes were not reported in studies of Nexlizet. If you experience unintentional weight changes while you’re taking Nexlizet, talk with your doctor.

Does Nexlizet cause hair loss?

It’s not likely. Hair loss was not reported in studies of Nexlizet. And in general, cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Nexlizet don’t usually cause hair loss.

If you’re concerned about hair loss during your Nexlizet treatment, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.

Does Nexlizet cause long-term side effects?

It’s possible. Long-term side effects include those that may start at any time you’re taking a drug, even if you’ve taken it for a long time. It also includes side effects that may not go away, even after you stop taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported in Nexlizet’s studies include:

If you’re concerned about possible long-term side effects from Nexlizet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does stopping treatment with Nexlizet cause side effects?

It’s not likely. Side effects after stopping Nexlizet weren’t reported by people taking the drug during studies of Nexlizet. And most mild side effects reported in studies went away while people were taking the drug or soon after their treatment ended.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re concerned about side effects after you stop taking Nexlizet.

Learn more about some of the side effects Nexlizet may cause.

Excess uric acid

Nexlizet can cause excess uric acid in the blood. This was a common side effect reported in studies of the drug. Excess uric acid can occur within 4 weeks of starting Nexlizet and will not go away unless you stop taking Nexlizet.

A high level of uric acid may result in gout. This may cause symptoms such as:

  • joint stiffness
  • warmth and swelling in the joint
  • tenderness in the joint
  • severe pain, especially in a toe joint

Factors that can increase the risk of gout when taking Nexlizet include:

What might help

If you have an increased uric acid level during your Nexlizet treatment, consider keeping a food diary to help you avoid foods and drinks that increase your risk of gout. Also, drinking plenty of water can help flush uric acid out of your system.

If you have questions about your risk of excess uric acid, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Tendon rupture

Nexlizet may cause a tendon rupture in some people. This was an uncommon side effect reported in Nexlizet’s studies. Tendon rupture can occur in specific areas such as the shoulder rotator cuff, upper arm biceps tendon, or Achilles tendon on the back of the heel. Symptoms may develop in tendon areas within weeks or months after starting Nexlizet and may include:

  • sudden and severe pain
  • immediate bruising or swelling
  • feeling or hearing a pop
  • difficulty walking or moving the affected area

Factors that can increase the risk of ruptured tendon when taking Nexlizet include:

  • past tendon problems
  • intense exercise
  • exercise without correct stretching
  • steroid injections into the tendon
  • kidney failure
  • taking medications such as fluoroquinolones, statins, or aromatase inhibitors
  • being over 60 years of age

What might help

If you’re concerned about your risk of tendon rupture with Nexlizet, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may recommend stretching before exercise and avoiding high impact activities such as jumping. Instead, you may want to try low impact exercises, such as walking or swimming, to relieve stress on tendons.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Nexlizet can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, this side effect was not reported in studies. Instead, allergic reaction was reported after the drug was approved.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin (usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet)
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

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. Examples include:

  • an oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Nexlizet, they’ll decide whether you should continue taking it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty 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 Nexlizet, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

This section contains important information you should consider before taking Nexlizet.

Warnings

Nexlizet can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Nexlizet is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Nexlizet. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

  • liver problems
  • kidney problems
  • have had gout before
  • tendon problems
  • taking other prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, supplements, herbals, or vitamins
  • past allergic reaction to Nexlizet
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding

Alcohol and Nexlizet

There are no known interactions between alcohol and Nexlizet. However, both alcohol and Nexlizet can increase the risk of gout and elevated liver enzymes. So drinking alcohol during Nexlizet treatment may further raise the risk of these side effects.

If you have questions about consuming alcohol during Nexlizet treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Nexlizet

Nexlizet is usually prescribed for someone who’s pregnant or breastfeeding only if the benefits of treatment outweigh the potential risks.

Pregnancy

It’s not known whether Nexlizet is safe to take while pregnant. But based on the way the drug works in your body, it may not be safe to take during pregnancy.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting Nexlizet treatment.

If you take Nexlizet while pregnant, consider signing up for the Bempedoic Acid Pregnancy Surveillance Program. (Bempedoic is one of the active ingredients in Nexlizet.) A pregnancy registry collects information about the safety of certain medications when taken during pregnancy.

You can learn more or sign up on the registry website or by calling 833-377-7633.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding while taking Nexlizet is not recommended. It’s not known whether the drug passes into breast milk, but if it does, it may cause serious side effects in a child who is breastfed.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor about your options.

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.