Altoprev has been licensed to treat high cholesterol and high triglycerides -- and to help prevent heart disease in people who do not have existing heart disease but do have high cholesterol. The drug lowers "bad cholesterol" by blocking the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which controls the body's rate of cholesterol production. It also helps increase "good cholesterol" and decrease triglycerides. Possible side effects of Altoprev include headache, muscle pain, and diarrhea.
Altoprev® (lovastatin extended-release) is a prescription medication used for treating a number of conditions related to heart disease, including high cholesterol and high triglycerides. It is part of a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, which are more popularly known as statins.
Who Makes Altoprev?
Altoprev is manufactured by Andrx Pharmaceuticals and distributed by First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corporation.
What Is It Used For?
The medication has been licensed for several uses, including:
Treatment of high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
Altoprev is part of a class of drugs called statins.
It works by blocking a particular enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol. Altoprev also:
Increases the liver's ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol")
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