If you have high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe Leqvio for you. Leqvio is a prescription medication used to help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in certain adults. (LDL is also known as “bad” cholesterol.)

Leqvio is prescribed for adults.

  • 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 “What is Leqvio used for?” below.

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.

Prescription drug prices can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. To find current prices for Leqvio in your area, visit WellRx.com.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A Leqvio Co-Pay Program may be available.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Leqvio may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common side effects are described in the lists below. All possible side effects are not included in these lists.

The side effects of a drug can depend on other factors.

  • Your age.
  • You have other health conditions.
  • You take other drugs.

The doctor or the pharmacy can tell you more about the side effects of Leqvio. They can suggest ways to 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 be present.

The side effects of many drugs can be gone in a few days. If they become intolerable, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

The side effect is described in the section “Allergic reaction”.

Serious side effects

Leqvio can have serious side effects, but they are not common. If you have serious side effects from Leqvio, call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, you should call the emergency number.

Leqvio may have serious side effects.

  • The injection site reaction was severe.
  • Severe allergic reaction.

The side effect is described in the section “Allergic reaction”.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Leqvio. While allergic reaction wasn’t reported in studies of Leqvio, it could still happen.

A mild allergic reaction can include some symptoms.

A more severe allergic reaction is not uncommon. A severe allergic reaction can cause swelling under your skin, usually in your lips, hands, or feet. They can include swelling of your mouth, throat, and tongue, which can cause trouble breathing.

If you have an allergic reaction to Leqvio, call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, call the emergency number.

Answers to some questions about Leqvio are listed below.

What should I know about Leqvio vs. Repatha?

Leqvio and Repatha are drugs that your doctor may prescribe to you. They work in different ways.

Leqvio and Repatha are both used in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. This is a genetic (inherited) condition that causes high cholesterol. Repatha is also used in adults and certain children with a slightly different genetic condition called homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Repatha is used 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 is used once every 2 or 4 weeks, and your doctor can teach you how to give yourself these injections at home.

If you want to learn more about how these drugs compare, you should talk to your doctor. They can tell you if 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 body have LDL receptors on their surface. The LDL cholesterol can be broken down in your liver by removing these receptors. PCSK9 is aprotein made in your body. PCSK9 is prevented by Leqvio.

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.

Leqvio is usually prescribed with a statin. The drugs work together to lower cholesterol.

If you have questions about taking Leqvio, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor will tell you the right Leqvio dose. Your doctor will determine the dosage 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 dosage

Your doctor will give you one injection when you start treatment. They will give you a second injection after 3 months. You will get one injection every 6 months after this.

Questions about Leqvio’s dosage

There are many questions about Leqvio.

  • 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.

Leqvio is used to help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in certain adults. (LDL is also known as “bad” cholesterol.) Leqvio is prescribed for adults.

  • 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.

Your doctor will probably not prescribe Leqvio to reduce your risk of death or cardiovascular problems. They may prescribe other drugs to lower your risk.

Your doctor will explain how Leqvio will be administered. They will explain how much you will be given and how often.

Receiving Leqvio

You’ll receive Leqvio as an injection under your skin in your doctor’s office. You’ll typically receive one injection of Leqvio at each appointment. Your first two appointments will be 3 months apart. After that, you’ll typically receive a dose once every 6 months.

You may receive Leqvio injections in your upper arm, thigh, or belly. 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:

If you can’t take statins, your doctor may prescribe Leqvio with a different cholesterol-lowering drug, such as ezetimibe (Zetia).

Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about Leqvio. Discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help you.

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will Leqvio affect me?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment to make you feel more comfortable.
  • “If you don’t understand something, ask your doctor to explain it.”

“Your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. They want you to get the best care possible. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or give 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 You take other drugs.. Your doctor can help determine if 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, you should tell your doctor about all your medication. Discuss any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions that may occur.

The “Warnings” section contains information about drug-condition interactions.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Leqvio is not known to interact with other drugs. In the future, interactions with Leqvio will be recognized. New medications may interact with it.

You should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other drugs or supplements while you are 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

If you have certain medical conditions, Leqvio may not be right for you. These are drug-condition interactions. Other factors may affect whether Leqvio is a good option.

Before you take Leqvio, talk to your doctor about your health history. The factors to consider are listed below.

  • 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 are better options for you.
  • Severe liver problems. Leqvio hasn’t been studied in people with severe liver problems. So it’s not known if 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 take Leqvio with a statin drug. And statins and alcohol may both affect your liver. In some cases, your doctor may recommend limiting your alcohol use if you take a statin.

If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor about how much you can drink while using Leqvio.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

For people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, see below.

Pregnancy

“It is not known if Leqvio is safe to take during pregnancy. The drug has not been studied in pregnant people. Leqvio lowers cholesterol and it could harm a fetus if taken during pregnancy. Doctors won’t prescribe Leqvio for pregnant people.”

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about your treatment options. If you become pregnant while using Leqvio, your doctor will recommend that you stop treatment.

Breastfeeding

Leqvio is not known if it is safe to use while breastfeeding. It is not known if the drug can affect a child who is breastfeeding.

Leqvio is likely to be used with a statin drug. If you take a statin, breastfeeding is not recommended. Talk to your doctor about your options if you are planning to breastfeeding.

Talk to your doctor if you have questions about Leqvio. They can discuss your treatment options with you. They can help you decide if Leqvio is a good choice for you.

You might want to ask your doctor some questions.

  • Why do I need to keep taking my statin with Leqvio?
  • Will I need to use Leqvio after I reach my cholesterol level?
  • Does Leqvio have any long-term side effects?
  • Can Leqvio affect my liver?
  • Can I take Leqvio if I have diabetes?

There are some articles about managing high cholesterol that you might find helpful.

To learn more about general heart health, you can sign up for Healthline’s heart health newsletter.

Q:

Can Leqvio be used with Repatha or Praluent to lower LDL cholesterol?

Anonymous

A:

No, it’s not likely that your doctor will prescribe Leqvio with Repatha or Praluent to reduce your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

The effect of using Leqvio with drugs has not been studied. It is not known if the combination would work for lowering 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 doesn’t lower your cholesterol enough, your doctor may want you to switch to Leqvio. If Leqvio is not working for you, your doctor may recommend a different drug.”

Talk to your doctor about your treatment options if you have questions.

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.