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Lovastatin
Lovastatin ( Mevacor®) is a prescription medication used for treating a number of conditions related to heart disease, including high cholesterol. It is part of a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, which are more popularly known as statins.
This article refers to immediate-release lovastatin. For more information about extended-release lovastatin, see Altoprev.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with lovastatin. However, not everyone who takes it will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate the medication well. If side effects occur, in most cases, they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. If side effects do occur, most people do not need to stop taking the medicine.
In clinical studies, common side effects included but were not limited to:
Other rare side effects, occurring in less than 1 percent of people, include but are not limited to:
Keep in mind that if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (especially if you also have a fever or feel ill), it is important to contact your healthcare provider right away. This could be a sign of a serious, life-threatening muscle problem.
(Click Lovastatin Side Effects to learn more, including other serious side effects you should report to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
Prior to taking lovastatin, you should tell your healthcare provider if you have:
- Liver disease or liver failure
- Kidney disease or kidney failure
- A genetic condition known as homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
- Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Let your healthcare provider know if you:
Also, tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are currently taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
How Does Lovastatin Work?
Lovastatin 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. The medication also:
In research studies, people taking lovastatin 20 mg once in the evening were able to, on average, decrease LDL cholesterol by 27 percent, total cholesterol by 19 percent, and increase HDL by 6 percent. At this dosage, triglycerides actually went up 9 percent. At other doses, triglycerides decreased by as much as 27 percent. The effects of lovastatin on cholesterol and triglyceride levels are greater with higher doses.
When and How Do I Take It?
Some general considerations for when and how to take the lovastatin include the following:
- Your dosage should be taken with the evening meal.
- Do not take lovastatin on an empty stomach, as this may decrease the level of the medication in your blood.
- Make sure to take lovastatin in the evening, as it will not work as well if you take it earlier in the day (the liver produces the most cholesterol during the middle of the night).
- For the medication to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. Lovastatin will not work if you stop taking it.
People on lovastatin should not drink grapefruit juice because it can increase the levels of medication in the blood, which can increase the risk of developing serious muscle problems. If you are being treated with lovastatin and want to continue drinking grapefruit juice, talk to your doctor about other cholesterol-lowering medications (see Grapefruit Juice and Mevacor for more information).
The dose of lovastatin your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- Your age
- The medical condition being treated
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be currently taking.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Alternatives to Lovastatin
Because lovastatin can lower LDL cholesterol (along with lowering total cholesterol and increasing HDL), people can lower their risk for developing problems related to high cholesterol by taking it.
For most people, lovastatin is quite effective in lowering cholesterol. It is also generally well tolerated. However, side effects can occur, and people may wish to consider a substitute. These substitutes could include other statins or other cholesterol medicines.
What If I Take an Overdose?
If you happen to overdose on lovastatin, seek immediate medical attention (see Lovastatin Overdose).
Lovastatin should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture. Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you do not take your lovastatin as scheduled, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. If it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the one you forgot and take your next dose instead. Do not take a double dose.
Lovastatin is currently available in generic form (see Generic Mevacor for more information ).
The brand-name version of this medication ( Mevacor) is made by Merck & Co., Inc. Generic versions are made by various manufacturers.
Several strengths of lovastatin are available. These include:
- Lovastatin 10 mg
- Lovastatin 20 mg
- Lovastatin 40 mg.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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