Lovastatin (By mouth)

loe-va-STAT-in

Lowers high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. May reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood vessel problems. This is a statin.

Drug classes

Antihyperlipidemic (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Lovastatin is used together with a proper diet to lower cholesterol and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood. This medicine may help prevent medical problems (eg, chest pain, heart attack, stroke) caused by clogged blood vessels. It may also be used to prevent certain types of heart and blood vessel problems in patients with risk factors for heart problems.

Lovastatin belongs to the group of medicines called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins. It works to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood by blocking an enzyme that is needed by the body to make cholesterol.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Tablet, Long Acting Tablet

Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

Take the tablet with food. Take the extended-release tablet without food.

Take the medicine in the evening, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Do not use this medicine together with boceprevir, clarithromycin, cobicistat, cyclosporine, erythromycin, gemfibrozil, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, posaconazole, telaprevir, telithromycin, voriconazole, or certain medicines to treat HIV/AIDS.

Some medicines can affect how lovastatin works. Tell your doctor if you are using amiodarone, cimetidine, colchicine, danazol, diltiazem, dronedarone, niacin (vitamin B3), ranolazine, spironolactone, verapamil, other medicine for lowering cholesterol (such as fenofibrate), medicine to treat fungus infections (such as fluconazole, voriconazole), or a blood thinner (such as warfarin).

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to lovastatin, you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or you have active liver disease.

Warnings

It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, or a history of stroke or heart disease. Tell your doctor if you have a history of liver disease or if you drink alcohol regularly.

This medicine may cause liver problems, or myopathy or rhabdomyolysis (muscle damage).

Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before you have surgery or medical tests.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Blistering, peeling, red skin rash

Change in how much or how often you urinate

Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes

Muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness

Unusual tiredness

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Altoprev, Mevacor

There may be other brand names for this medicine.