Key takeaways

  • Leqvio may cause injection site reactions, including bruising, pain, discoloration, itchiness, and a burning or prickling sensation at the injection site.
  • In addition to injection site reactions, common side effects of Leqvio may include joint pain and bronchitis. Joint pain after Leqvio injections was frequently reported in studies.
  • Although serious side effects with Leqvio are uncommon and none were reported in studies, potential severe reactions could include serious injection site reactions or allergic reactions.

Leqvio is prescribed to treat certain types of high cholesterol in adults.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Leqvio can cause. To learn more about Leqvio, including its uses, dosage, and cost, read this Leqvio overview article.

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

For more information about these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who received Leqvio treatment in studies.

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

For more information about these mild Leqvio side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

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

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

Serious side effects with Leqvio are not common. In fact, none were reported in studies. But serious side effects could still occur during your treatment. Examples include:

For more about injection site reactions, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section. For more about allergic reactions, see the following “Allergic reaction” box.

If you develop serious side effects while using Leqvio, 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.

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 using Leqvio and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Leqvio can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t 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 using 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 injections, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

It’s unknown whether Leqvio may have long-term side effects. Long-term side effects weren’t reported in studies of Leqvio.

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

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

Injection site reactions

Leqvio can cause injection site reactions, which are side effects that occur where the drug has been injected. Examples of injection site reactions include:

  • bruising
  • pain
  • discoloration (such as redness)
  • itchiness
  • burning or a prickling sensation

Mild injection site reactions were common in studies of Leqvio. Serious injection site reactions may be possible but were not reported in studies.

What might help

If you experience an injection site reaction after receiving a Leqvio dose, talk with your doctor about ways to treat it. They may also have advice on how to help prevent an injection site reaction when receiving your next dose.

For example, your doctor may recommend using a cream that’s applied to your skin, such as hydrocortisone, before or after your injection. They may also suggest applying an ice pack to the injection site after receiving your dose. This could help relieve pain or swelling from the injection.

Joint pain

Leqvio can cause joint pain in some people. This was a common side effect reported in studies of the drug. This can include pain in your elbows, knees, or other joints. Pain in the arms and legs was also reported in studies of Leqvio.

What might help

If you experience joint pain during your Leqvio treatment, talk with your doctor about how to treat or help prevent it. They may suggest that you take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, such as naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil), or acetaminophen (Tylenol), before or after your Leqvio injection.

Be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any OTC medications. They’ll let you know whether these medications are safe for you to take.

Bronchitis

Leqvio can cause bronchitis in some people. This was a common side effect reported in studies of the drug.

With bronchitis, the tubes that carry air from your throat to your lungs get inflamed or infected. This causes mucus to build up, which can lead to symptoms that are similar to those of a cold or flu. These symptoms may include:

What might help

If you think you might have bronchitis, talk with your doctor. In most cases, bronchitis can be managed at home with OTC medications. Your doctor may recommend OTC ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve fever or aches and pain.

Other OTC drugs, such as dextromethorphan (Delsym) or dextromethorphan/guaifenesin (Mucinex DM), may also help relieve cough and loosen mucus.

Other tips to help relieve your symptoms include using a humidifier in your bedroom and drinking plenty of liquids.

If your symptoms are severe or don’t improve with OTC treatments, your doctor may suggest a chest X-ray or a blood test to determine whether you have pneumonia or a different respiratory infection. If they confirm you have an infection other than bronchitis, they’ll likely prescribe an antibiotic to treat it.

Here are answers to commonly asked questions about Leqvio’s side effects.

How do the side effects of Leqvio compare with those of Repatha?

Many of the side effects reported in studies of Leqvio were also seen in studies of Repatha. But both drugs are known to cause some side effects that are not reported in studies of the other drug.

Repatha has a warning for serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, but Leqvio does not. Other side effects reported with Repatha but not Leqvio include:

To learn more about Repatha’s side effects, see this article.

Does Leqvio cause liver-related side effects?

No, in studies of Leqvio, no liver-related side effects were reported. But it’s important to note that Leqvio has not been studied in people with severe liver problems.

If you have a severe liver problem, such as liver failure, talk with your doctor before taking Leqvio.

Before starting Leqvio, discuss your health history with your doctor. Leqvio 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:

If you still have questions about the side effects of Leqvio, talk with your doctor. Examples of questions that you may want to ask include:

  • How do Leqvio’s side effects compare with those of other drugs that can treat my condition?
  • Is my risk of injection site reactions higher when I first start treatment?
  • Do I have a higher risk of joint pain when I start Leqvio treatment?

To learn more about Leqvio, see these articles:

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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.