TUESDAY, Dec. 16 (HealthDay News) -- The Abbott Laboratories drug TriLipix (fenofibric acid) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help lower cholesterol.

TriLipix is among a class of drugs called fibrates, and it can be used alone or in combination with a statin, such as Lipitor, Zocor or Crestor.

The drug was studied in 2,698 people with so-called "mixed dyslipidemia," a condition characterized by above-normal levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides, and below-normal levels of HDL (good cholesterol). Clinical studies showed TriLipix used in combination with a statin helped people control all three lipids better than use of the statin alone, Abbott said in a news release.

Common side effects of TriLipix included headache, heartburn, nausea, muscle aches, and increased levels of certain muscle and liver enzymes measured by blood tests.

People with liver, gallbladder, or severe kidney disease shouldn't take TriLipix. The drug should also be avoided by nursing mothers, Abbott said.

More information

To learn more about managing cholesterol, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.