General Information About Lovastatin:
Lovastatin, which goes by brand names Mevacor or Altoprev, is a cholesterol-lowering medication that belongs to the statin class of drugs. It is currently the fourth most potent statin on the market. Like other statins, Mevacor affects all aspects of your cholesterol profile: It lowers LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and triglycerides and raises HDL ("good" cholesterol). Mevacor is available in a generic formulation.How Lovastatin Works:
Mevacor (lovastatin) blocks the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase, an important protein needed in the production of cholesterol.How To Take Lovastatin:
This medication may be taken with food, as directed by your healthcare provider. This medication should not be taken with grapefruit or grapefruit juice, since this can increase the amount of lovastatin in the blood and, therefore, increase the incidence of side effects.Who Should Not Take Lovastatin:
The following individuals should not take Mevacor (lovastatin):- Those who have had an allergic reaction to Mevaocr (lovastatin) or any of its components
- Women who are pregnant
- Women who are breastfeeding
- Those who have active liver disease or abnormally high liver enzyme levels
- Those who have a history of alcohol abuse.
General Side Effects of Lovastatin:
The most common side effects include:- headache
- chest pain
- rash
- weakness
- dizziness
- joint pain
- gastrointestinal problems (such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, dyspepsia, or flatulence)
Serious Side Effects of Lovastatin:
The following are serious side effects of lovastatin. If you experience any of these rare side effects, contact your healthcare provider immediately:- myopathy - such as progressive muscle soreness or weakness
- red- or brown-colored urine
Drugs That Could Interact With Lovastatin:
The following drugs may interact with lovastatin, increasing the likelihood of experiencing side effects (especially myopathy). With the exception of the cholesterol-lowering drugs listed below, the remaining drugs also increase levels of lovastatin in your body. If you are required to take one of the drugs listed below, your healthcare provider may need to adjust your dose, monitor you more closely for side effects, or discontinue one of the drugs:- Cholesterol lowering drugs (nicotinic acid, fibrates)
- Samdimmune, Neoral (yclosporine)
- Fluvoxamine
- Antifungal drugs ending in "-azole" -- Nizoral (ketoconazole), Diflucan (fluconazole), Mycelex (miconazole), Sporanox (itraconazole)
- Antibiotics ending in "-mycin" -- erythromycin, Biaxin (clarithromycin)
- Nefazodone
- High blood pressure medications -- diltiazem and verapramil
- Cordarone (Amiodarone)
- HIV Protease Inhibitors - Norvir (ritonavir), Agenerase (amprenavir), Crixivan (indinavir), Viracept (nelfinavir)
- Synercid (quinupristin and dalfopristin)
The following drugs may also be affected if taken with lovastatin:
- Coumadin (warfarin) - may cause blood to not clot as well
- Oral contraceptives - may increase the concentration of these hormones in the body
- Lanoxin (digoxin) - may increase the concentration of this drug in the body
- Synthroid (levothyroxine) - levels may increase due to the presence of lovastatin
The following drugs may interact with lovastatin by decreasing the amount of lovastatin in the body:
- St. John's Wort
- Cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as bile acid sequestrants
(In order to avoid this, separate your lovastatin dose and bile acid sequestrant dose by at least four hours.)
Disclaimer
This information is just a brief listing. It is not inclusive and should not replace the information provided by your healthcare provider or the manufacturer of this drug.Sources:
Dipiro JT, Talbert RL. Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiological Approach, 6th ed 2005.
Lacy CF, Armstrong LL, Goldman MP, et al. Lexicomp's Drug Information Handbook, 15th ed 2007.
