What Is Niacin Extended-Release/Lovastatin Used For?
Niacin, or nicotinic acid, is also used as a cholesterol-lowering medicine. How niacin works is not completely understood. It probably works in several ways to improve cholesterol levels. Niacin is believed to increase HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) levels by preventing the liver from removing HDL from the bloodstream. In addition, niacin seems to decrease the liver’s production of LDL and VLDL, two types of “bad” cholesterol. It also helps decrease the release of fatty acids (from body fat) into the bloodstream.