Key takeaways

  • Side effects of Nexletol (bempedoic acid) may vary depending on several factors. This includes your health history, the specific condition you’re taking Nexletol to treat, and any other medications you may be taking.
  • Nexletol’s side effects can range from mild to serious. More common side effects include muscle spasms, anemia, and elevated liver enzymes.
  • If side effects from Nexletol become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to help manage these effects. In some cases, your doctor may recommend stopping treatment with Nexletol.

Nexletol is used in adults to lower LDL cholesterol along with a low cholesterol diet. Specifically, it’s prescribed to help:

Nexletol comes as a tablet you swallow. It contains the active ingredient bempedoic acid. It may also be prescribed in combination with a statin medication.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Nexletol (bempedoic acid) can cause. To learn more about this drug, including its uses, dosage, and cost, see this Nexletol overview.

Nexletol can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult for you to tolerate.

Nexletol’s commonly reported side effects include:

For more information about some of these more common Nexletol side effects see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Mild side effects have been reported with Nexletol. 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 bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Nexletol unless your doctor recommends it.

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

For more information about some of these mild side effects of Nexletol, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Nexletol may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Nexletol’s prescribing information.

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

Serious Nexletol side effects include:

For more information about hyperuricemia from Nexletol use, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Nexletol can cause an allergic reaction.

But this side effect was not reported in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

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 taking Nexletol.

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 Nexletol, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

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

Muscle spasms

Muscle spasms were a common but mild side effect reported by people taking Nexletol in studies.

Muscle spasms or pain may also be a side effect of other drugs you take. For example, doctors usually prescribe Nexletol with a statin, and these medications often cause muscle-related problems, such as pain or weakness. Taking both medications may increase your risk of muscle spasms.

What you can do

Muscle spasms are usually mild and should be a temporary side effect of Nexletol. But if you have muscle spasms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor. For mild pain, they may suggest:

If you have severe muscle spasms or pain, call your doctor right away. They can diagnose the cause and discuss treatment options with you. Sometimes, they may have you stop taking Nexletol and will prescribe a different treatment.

Abdominal pain or discomfort

Nexletol can cause abdominal discomfort or pain, with pain occurring in the upper or lower abdomen. This was a common but mild side effect of the drug reported in studies. There may be other causes of abdominal pain, such as other health conditions you have or other drugs you take.

What you can do

Abdominal pain or discomfort is usually a mild side effect that should ease after a few days to weeks of treatment. But if you have bothersome or ongoing pain, call your doctor. They’ll help determine the cause and decide if you need to stop taking Nexletol.

Anemia

Nexletol can cause anemia (low level of red blood cells). This was a mild side effect of the drug reported in studies. Anemia may cause symptoms such as:

What you can do

If you have symptoms of anemia while taking Nexletol, call your doctor. They’ll likely order blood tests to check your blood count levels and decide if you can continue taking Nexletol. If you do continue taking the drug, they may monitor you closely for anemia.

High uric acid levels

Nexletol can cause hyperuricemia, a condition in which you have an increased level of uric acid in your blood. This is a rare but serious side effect of Nexletol. Your levels may increase during the first 4 weeks of treatment and remain high while you’re taking this drug. Sometimes, this could increase your risk of developing gout (a type of arthritis).

You may not notice symptoms of hyperuricemia. But some you might notice include:

  • severe foot pain, especially in the big toe
  • joint swelling
  • tender, discolored, or warm joints

What you can do

Before starting treatment with Nexletol, tell your doctor if you or a family member has gout or high uric acid levels. Your doctor may not prescribe Nexletol in this case because this may increase your risk of developing high uric acid levels.

Be sure to drink plenty of water while taking Nexletol. If you experience symptoms of hyperuricemia, call your doctor. They’ll check your uric acid levels to diagnose your condition. Sometimes, they may prescribe a drug such as allopurinol (Zyloprim) or febuxostat (Uloric) to lower your uric acid levels.

Your doctor will decide whether it’s safe for you to continue taking Nexletol or if you should switch to a different treatment.

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

It doesn’t appear so. There were no reports of hair loss as a side effect in Nexletol studies. But hair loss may have other causes, such as other conditions you may have or other drugs you take.

If you’re concerned about hair loss, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you about possible causes and ways to manage it.

It’s unlikely. There were no reports of weight changes, such as weight gain or weight loss, in studies of Nexletol. If you’re experiencing changes in your weight, talk with your doctor. They can review possible causes, including other drugs you’re taking or certain lifestyle factors such as your diet.

If you have unintentional weight loss with abdominal pain (a side effect of Nexletol), call your doctor. They can check your liver function and other possible causes of weight loss.

If you have concerns about weight changes with Nexletol treatment, talk with your doctor. They can offer suggestions on ways to manage a moderate weight.

Doctors prescribe Nexletol with a statin medication and a low cholesterol diet to manage high cholesterol and for those with certain risks of cardiovascular disease.

These two drugs have some similar and different side effects. For example, both Nexletol and some statin drugs can cause:

But Nexletol can also cause different side effects, including hyperuricemia, which was reported in the drug’s studies.

Some statins can cause other kinds of side effects, such as raised blood sugar levels. You may have a higher risk of certain common side effects of both Nexletol and statins when taking these drugs together.

Before taking Nexletol, discuss your health history with your doctor. Nexletol may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

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.