This first section of our medication database entry focuses on basic drug characteristics, uses and benefits, while part two covers side effects, interactions and additional information.
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Lovastatin Consumer Information
LOVASTATIN
Generic Name: lovastatin (LOE va stah tin)
Brand Names: Altocor, Mevacor
What is the most important information I should know about lovastatin?
- Do not take lovastatin without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
- Alcohol and lovastatin can both be damaging to the liver. Discuss with your doctor the amount of alcohol you drink so that it can be determined if lovastatin is the best choice for lowering your cholesterol.
- Do not take lovastatin if you are pregnant, if you are planning a pregnancy, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.
- Contact you doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if it is accompanied by a fever, flu-like symptoms, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
What is lovastatin?
- Lovastatin blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.
- Lovastatin is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood. These actions are important in the prevention of heart disease and hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
- Lovastatin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lovastatin?
- Do not take lovastatin without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
- Before taking lovastatin, tell your doctor if you
- have kidney disease,
- drink alcoholic beverages,
- have a chronic muscular disease, or
- have a blood disorder.
- You may not be able to take lovastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
- Lovastatin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that lovastatin is known to cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. Cholesterol is very important for the proper development of a baby. Do not take lovastatin if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
- It is not known whether lovastatin passes into breast milk. Do not take lovastatin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take lovastatin?
- Take lovastatin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
- Take each dose with a full glass of water.
- Do not crush or chew the extended-release lovastatin tablets (Altocor). Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated to release the medication slowly in the body.
- For the greatest effect, lovastatin is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. If you take lovastatin several times daily, take it with meals. Follow your doctor's directions.
- Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with lovastatin, at six and twelve weeks after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose, and periodically (every 6 months) thereafter. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.
- Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with lovastatin. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
- Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To see beneficial effects from lovastatin, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.
- Do not stop taking lovastatin without first talking to your doctor. It may be weeks or months before beneficial effects are seen from this medication.
- Store lovastatin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
- Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.
What happens if I overdose?
- Seek emergency medical attention.
- Symptoms of a lovastatin overdose include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion.
What should I avoid while taking lovastatin?
- Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with lovastatin. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
- Alcohol and lovastatin can both be damaging to the liver. Discuss with your doctor the amount of alcohol you drink so that it can be determined if lovastatin is the best choice for lowering your cholesterol.
Please see the end of this document for relevant limitations, full details of our medication information supplier, and revision date or version number.