Mevacor (Lovastatin)

General information

Mevacor belongs to the family of medications known as cholesterol-lowering medications. It is used for treating a number of conditions related to heart disease, including high cholesterol. Mevacor works by blocking an enzyme that is needed to make cholesterol in the body. Lovastatin reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries, conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.

Directions

Take Mevacor exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Typical dosages range from 10 mg to 80 mg once a day or split into two divided doses per day. The maximum recommended daily dose of is 80 mg. The recommended starting Mevacor dose for most people with high cholesterol is 20 mg once a day, taken with the evening meal.

Precautions

Before taking Mevacor you should talk with your doctor if you have liver disease, liver failure, kidney disease, kidney failure, homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, muscle disorder, diabetes, underactive thyroid, any allergies. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug. Limit alcoholic beverages. Alcohol may increase your risk for liver problems. Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication.

Contraindications

You should not take Mevacor if you are allergic to lovastatin or to any of the ingredients of the medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have active liver disease or unexplained increases in liver function tests. It should not be used by a child younger than 10 years of age.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, gas, headache, blurred vision, skin rash, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, itching, muscle pain, tenderness, loss of balance, numbness, tingling, swelling of the face, tongue, throat, rash, itching, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor.

Drug interactions

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially: HIV/AIDS medicines (ritonavir, indinavir, atazanavir, delavirdine), blood thinners (heparin, enoxaparin, warfarin), antifungal medications (voriconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole), antibiotics (clarithromycin, telithromycin, erythromycin), antidepressants (imipramine, doxepin, amitriptyline, nortriptyline), steroids (prednisone, hydrocortisone, prednisolone), heart rhythm medications (quinidine, flecainide, amiodarone), cholesterol medications (atorvastatin, simvastatin, niacin), cholestyramine. Interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications you are taking.

Missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as possible. Skip the missed dose if it is time for your next scheduled dose. Don't take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

The overdose symptoms are unknown. If you think you have overdosed the medicine seek emergency medical help at once.

Storage

Store the medicine at room temperature between 59-77 degrees F (15-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store the drugs in the bathroom. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.

Note

The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.