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Lovastatin

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Description | Uses & Side Effects | Warnings

There is currently no information to display in this section. RateADrug provides information about drugs and supplements though a wiki format provided by researchers, health care providers and others. We encourage you to add to this description by clicking on the button below.

Common Uses:

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.

Lovastatin (Mevacor) is a medication that has been licensed to treat several conditions. These lovastatin uses include the:

Treatment of high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
Prevention of heart disease
Slowing the progression of atherosclerosis (narrowing and hardening of the arteries) in people with heart disease.

Off Label Uses:

At this time, there are no universally accepted off-label uses for lovastatin.

Side Effects:
Some of the side effects of Lovastatin include the following:

If you develop unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness while taking lovastatin, especially if the symptoms are with a fever or you feel ill, it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately.

There are a number of side effects with lovastatin that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:

Signs of liver damage, such as yellow eyes or skin, upper right abdominal pain, dark urine, and elevated liver enzymes.

Muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or feel ill, since these may be signs of serious breakdown of muscle, known as rhabdomyolysis.

Significant, unexplained changes in the amount of urine you produce.

Signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
A rash
Itching
Hives
Wheezing or difficulty breathing
Swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat

The most common side effects of lovastatin include:
Gas
Constipation
Headache
Muscle pain, known medically as myalgia
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain (stomach pain)

The lovastatin side effects mentioned below also occurred in more than one percent of people and more often in the group taking lovastatin. These side effects included, but were not limited to:

General feeling of weakness, known medically as asthenia
Muscle cramps
Dizziness
Unexplained rash
Blurred vision

Some of these possible side effects include, but are not limited to:

Leg pain
Insomnia
Hair loss
Dry mouth
Vomiting

Cautions / Warnings:

Prior to taking lovastatin (Mevacor), 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:
Are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant
Are breastfeeding
Will be undergoing a procedure or surgery
Drink alcohol frequently.

Also, tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you may be taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Finally, make sure to contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness, especially if you also have body aches or a fever.

Drug Interactions:
Lovastatin (Mevacor) may interact with a number of other medications. Some of the medications that may lead to lovastatin drug interactions include:
Amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®)

Certain antibiotics, such as:
Erythromycin
Clarithromycin (Biaxin®)
Telithromycin (Ketek®)

Certain antifungals, such as:
Fluconazole (Diflucan®)
Itraconazole (Sporanox®)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral®)
Miconazole
Posaconazole (Noxafil®)
Voriconazole (VFEND®)

Cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®)
Danazol (Danocrine®)
Fibrates, such as:

Fenofibrate (Antara™, Lofibra™, Tricor®, Triglide™)
Gemfibrozil (Lopid®)

Grapefruit juice
Nefazodone (Serzone®)
Niacin (nicotinic acid, Niacor®, Nicolar®)
Protease inhibitors, such as:

Amprenavir (Agenerase®)
Atazanavir (Reyataz®)
Darunavir (Prezista™)
Fosamprenavir (Lexiva®)
Indinavir (Crixivan®)
Lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra®)
Nelfinavir (Viracept®)
Ritonavir (Norvir®)
Saquinavir (Invirase®)
Tipranavir (Aptivus®)

Verapamil (Calan®, Calan SR, Verelan®, Verelan PM, Isoptin®, Covera-HS®)
Warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®).

Some of these drug interactions with lovastatin may increase your risk for developing serious muscle problems (see Mevacor and Muscle Pain). If you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness while taking lovastatin (especially if you also have a fever or feel ill), it is important to contact your healthcare provider right away.

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About Lovastatin

Lovastatin belongs to the drug class of statins, which are used for lowering cholesterol (hypolipidemic agent) in those with hypercholesterolemia and so preventing cardiovascular disease. Lovastatin is a cholesterol-reducing agent which is derived from a strain of Aspergillus terreus. After oral ingestion, lovastatin, which is an inactive lactone, is hydrolyzed to the corresponding β-hydroxyacid form. Lovastatin is a white, nonhygroscopic crystalline powder that is insoluble in water and sparingly soluble in ethanol, methanol, and acetonitrile. Lovastatin, being inactive in the native form, the form in which it is administered,is hydrolysed to the β-hydroxy acid form in the body and it is this form which is active. Lovastatin is usually well tolerated. Lovastatin, and all statin drugs, can rarely cause myopathy or rhabdomyolysis. This can be life-threatening if not recognised and treated in time, and so any unexplained muscle pain or weakness whilst on lovastatin should be promptly mentioned to the prescribing doctor.

About Lovastatin

Lovastatin is a member of the drug class of statins, used for lowering cholesterol (hypolipidemic agent) in those with hypercholesterolemia and so preventing cardiovascular disease.

Source: Wikipedia

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