Lovastatin
Description
Lovastatin is a medicine that is used to reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in the body. It is also used in the treatment of long-term heart problems and stroke. Moreover, this medicine is used in reducing the amount of cholesterol also in children between 10 to 17 years of age suffering from hypercholesterolemia (a genetic disorder that results in high levels of harmful cholesterol in the blood).
Lovastatin shows some common side effects like headache, nausea, diarrhoea/constipation, indigestion, muscle pain, stuffy nose, etc. Consult your doctor if any of these side effects persist for a long time or bother you. Consult your doctor if you experience any allergic reaction to it.
Lovastatin can be taken with or without food as instructed by your doctor. Take it at the same time every day to maintain a constant level of this medicine in your body. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor as abrupt stopping may cause a sudden increase in your blood cholesterol levels, worsening your condition and increasing your risk of serious heart conditions.
Lovastatin may not be suitable for all people. It is not recommended if you have liver problems. Inform your doctor if you have diabetes as this medicine may alter your blood sugar levels. Also, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or are breastfeeding before starting the treatment with this medicine. A healthy lifestyle with no smoking, proper diet and regular exercise should be maintained besides taking this medicine to ensure better results.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Lovastatin
- Muscle pain
- Bladder pain
- Difficult or painful urination
- Acid or sour stomach
- Blurred vision
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Stomach pain
Uses of Lovastatin
What is it prescribed for?
- Hyperlipidaemia
- Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
- Prevention of heart attack and stroke
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe time required for Lovastatin to start showing its effect is not known.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which Lovastatin remains active in your body is about 5 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Avoid consumption of alcohol while on treatment with Lovastatin as it may increase the risk of liver damage.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Lovastatin.
- Usage in pregnancy?Lovastatin is not recommended for use if you are pregnant as it may harm your foetus. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Lovastatin is not recommended for use if you are breastfeeding as it passes into breastmilk and may harm your infant. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Allergy
Avoid taking Lovastatin if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, swelling/itching (especially in the face/throat/tongue), sneezing, breathing difficulty etc., after taking this medicine.
Liver disease
Lovastatin is broken down and absorbed in your liver. This medicine is not recommended for use if you have pre-existing liver problems as it may lead to the accumulation of Lovastatin and increase the risk of side effects. It may also cause further liver damage.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Lovastatin is not recommended for use if you are pregnant as it may harm your foetus. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
Lovastatin is not recommended for use if you are breastfeeding as it passes into breastmilk and may harm your infant. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Cognitive impairment
Lovastatin can cause forgetfulness, memory loss and confusion. These side effects are reversible once the medicine is stopped.
Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis
Lovastatin may increase the risk of Myopathy (a condition that affects the muscles that control voluntary movements of your body) and Rhabdomyolysis which is a muscular disease. The risk of causing Myopathy is higher in old people, and hence it should be used with caution.
Paediatric use
The safety and efficacy of Lovastatin have not been studied in children less than 10 years of age.
Increased liver enzyme levels
Lovastatin may increase the levels of liver enzymes in your body. Hence, use this medicine with caution if you have a history of liver problems. Your doctor may suggest tests to periodically monitor your liver enzyme levels while taking this medicine.
Missed Dose
Do not skip any dose of Lovastatin. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to compensate for a missed one.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you might have taken an overdose of Lovastatin, seek immediate medical help.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
N/A
Instructions
Avoid consumption of alcohol while on treatment with Lovastatin as it may increase the risk of liver damage.
Interaction with Medicine
Erythromycin
Warfarin
Colchicine
Ciprofloxacin
Verapamil
Cimetidine
Ritonavir
Ezetimibe
Azithromycin
Hydroxychloroquine
Amlodipine
Ketoconazole
Disease interactions
Liver disease
Lovastatin is broken down and absorbed in your liver. This medicine is not recommended for use if you have pre-existing liver problems as it may lead to the accumulation of Lovastatin and increase the risk of side effects. It may also cause further liver damage.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition caused by muscle breakdown that results in the release of a protein called myoglobin into the blood. This may lead to complications like kidney damage. Use Lovastatin with caution if you have rhabdomyolysis as it may further worsen your condition. Inform your doctor if you experience symptoms like muscle pain, weakness, fever, dark/reddish urine, etc. Your doctor may suggest tests to periodically monitor the creatine phosphokinase levels (high levels of this enzyme indicate muscle injury) while taking this medicine.
Diabetes
Use Lovastatin with caution if you have diabetes as this medicine may alter the blood sugar levels. Your doctor may monitor your blood sugar levels regularly while you are on treatment with this medicine.
Food interactions
Grapefruit juice can significantly increase the blood levels of Lovastatin. Any symptoms of tenderness, weakness, dark coloured urine should be reported to the doctor.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Lovastatin with or without food as instructed by your doctor. Do not break or chew the tablet in your mouth. Avoid taking more or fewer doses than prescribed.
Avoid taking Lovastatin with grapefruit juice as it may increase the risk of side effects.
Lovastatin may increase your risk of muscle damage. Hence, consult your doctor if you experience muscle pain/tenderness.
Avoid consuming alcohol while taking this medicine as it may increase your risk of liver damage.
Eat a healthy balanced diet and exercise regularly to get the maximum benefit from the treatment.
Keep away from the reach of children and pets. Ensure that the unused medicine is disposed of properly.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Lovastatin works by blocking the action of an enzyme responsible for the production of cholesterol in your body and effectively reducing your blood cholesterol levels.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Statins
Schedule
Schedule H
Drugs, H., 2021. Lovastatin: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 5 October 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. LOVASTATIN TABLETS, USP 40-8843 Revised – January 2008 Rx Only. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 5 October 2021].
Duong, H. and Bajaj, T., 2021. Lovastatin. [online] Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 5 October 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - LOVASTATIN tablet. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 5 October 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 20 Oct 2021
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