LOVASTATIN (Mevacor) is used for lowering high cholesterol in certain patients. It is used along with an appropriate diet. It is used in certain patients to reduce the risk of heart attack and chest pain caused by angina. It is also used to slow blood vessel blockage and to reduce the need for medical procedures to open blocked heart blood vessels.
Lovastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, also known as a "statin." It works by reducing the production of certain fatty substances in the body, including cholesterol.
Lovastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. It is used to lower high cholesterol in certain patients. It is also used to reduce the risk of heart attack and chest pain, caused by angina, and to slow blood vessel blockage and to reduce the need for medical procedures to open blocked heart blood vessels.
Tell your doctor if any of these apply to you:
you are pregnant, or planning to become pregant, or are breast-feeding
you have an alcohol problem
you are allergic to Lovastatin, any other medicine, foods, dyes, preservatives, or other substances
you have any hormone disorder (such as under-active thyroid, diabetes)
you have severe injury
you have an infection
you have seizures (convulsions)
you have blood salt imbalance
you have liver or kidney disease
you have low blood pressure
you have muscle disorder or condition
How to use:
Strictly follow your doctor's instructions
Advert to Medication Guide if necessary
You may take Lovastatin either with or without food
Don't stop taking Lovastatin until your doctor said so
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible
Avoid taking double or extra doses
Safety issues:
Tell your doctor as soon as you can if you get any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever and tiredness.
Some medicines increase the risk of muscle side effects while taking lovastatin. Discuss your drug regimen with your doctor if you are prescribed certain antibiotics or antifungals which are not recommended with lovastatin (examples: clarithromycin, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole). Your prescriber may decide to temporarily stop the lovastatin while you are taking a short course of the antibiotic or antifungal therapy. Alternatively, your doctor may prescribe another antibiotic or antifungal medicine for your condition.
Lovastatin is only part of a total cholesterol-lowering program. Your physician or dietician can suggest a low-cholesterol and low-fat diet that will reduce your risk of getting heart and blood vessel disease. Avoid alcohol and smoking, and keep a proper exercise schedule.
If you are going to have surgery, tell your doctor that you are taking lovastatin.
What medicines may interact with Lovastatin?
warfarin
alcohol
voriconazole
amiodarone
verapramil
barbiturates
telithromycin
bosentan
St.John's wort
carbamazepine
rifampin, rifabutin, or rifapentine
cilostazol
phenytoin
cyclosporine
oxcarbazepine
danazol
nicardipine
diltiazem
medicines used to stop early pregnancy (mifepristone, RU-486)
medicines to lower cholesterol or triglycerides (eg, gemfibrozil, niacin, clofibrate, fenofibrate)
fluconazole
efavirenz
isradipine
imatinib, STI-571
troleandomycin
amprenavir
saquinavir
atazanavir
ritonavir
clarithromycin
red yeast rice
delavirdine
nelfinavir
grapefruit juice
nefazodone
indinavir
mibefradil
itraconazole
ketoconazole
lopinavir, ritonavir
Possible side effects:
If you experience these side effects, you should contact your doctor immediately:
yellowing of skin or eyes
blurred vision, or vision changes
unusual tiredness or weakness
dark yellow or brown urine
skin rash, itching
decreased urination, difficulty passing urine
redness, peeling, blistering or loosening of the skin, inclufing inside mouth
fever
muscle pain, tenderness, cramps, or weakness
These side effects usually don't require medical attention (but you should contact your doctor if they continue or are bothersome):
stomach pain or indigestion
constipation or diarrhea
nausea, vomiting
difficulty sleeping
headache
dizziness
What is the shelf life of the pills?
The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
What is a generic pill?
Generic drug (pl. generic drugs, short: generics) is a drug which is produced and distributed without a brand name. A generic must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. In most cases, it is considered bioequivalent to the brand name counterpart with respect to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
