Lovastatin: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What Medicine Lovastatin?

What is lovastatin for?

Lovastatin is a drug that is used in conjunction with a proper diet to help lower levels of "bad" cholesterol and fats (such as LDL, triglycerides) and increase "good" cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. This drug belongs to a group of drugs called "statins". These drugs work by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver. Lowering the levels of "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides and increasing "good" cholesterol lowers the risk of heart disease and helps prevent strokes and heart attacks.

In addition to eating a healthy diet (such as cholesterol / low fat), other lifestyle changes that may help the drug work better include exercising, losing weight if you are overweight, and quitting smoking. Consult your doctor for more details.

How to use lovastatin?

Take this medication as directed by your doctor, usually once daily at dinner. Some patients may be told to take this medicine twice a day. The dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and other medications you may be taking. Make sure you tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription and nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medicine if your doctor has not instructed you to. Grapefruit can increase the amount of this drug in the blood vessels. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. If you are also taking other drugs to lower cholesterol (resins that bind to bile acids such as cholestyramine or colestipol), take lovastatin at least 1 hour before or at least 4 hours after taking the medicine. This product can react with lovastatin, preventing complete absorption.

Take this medicine regularly for maximum benefits. Remember to take the medicine at the same time every day. It is important to continue treatment even if you feel well. Most people with high cholesterol or triglycerides don't feel sick. It is very important to continue to follow your doctor's advice on diet and exercise. It may take 4 weeks before you get the full benefit of the drug.

How is lovastatin stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Lovastatin dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of lovastatin for adults?

Usual dosage for hyperlipidemia

Immediate release formulation:

Initial dose: 20 mg orally once a day at dinner.

Rule of dosage: 10-80 mg orally once a day or in 1 or 2 separate doses.

Comment: lower doses are recommended for reducing cholesterol levels in smaller amounts.

Extended release formulation:

Initial dose: 20, 40, or 60 mg orally once a day at bedtime. Patients who need a smaller amount of cholesterol reduction may start with 10 mg orally at bedtime.

Rule of dosage: 10-60 mg orally once a day at bedtime.

What is the dose of lovastatin for children?

Usual dose for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

Immediate release:

Initial: 10-17 years: 10 mg orally once a day

Rules: 10-17 years: 10-40 mg orally once a day

Remarks: dose adjustments should be made no earlier than every 4 weeks, do not add more than 10 mg to the current dose each time.

Extended release: this lovastatin formulation is not recommended for patients with young children.

In what dosage is lovastatin available?

Tablet, oral: 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg.

Lovastatin side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to lovastatin?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop lovastatin treatment and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness for no apparent reason
• fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine
• chest tightness
• confusion, memory problems
• swelling, weight gain, less or no urination
• high blood sugar levels (more thirst, urination, and hunger, dry mouth, fruity bad breath, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss)
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (on the skin or eyes)

Milder side effects may include:

• headache
• mild muscle pain
• joint pain
• back pain
• mild nausea
• upset stomach or indigestion
• constipation or
• insomnia

Not everyone experiences this side effect. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you want to know about side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Lovastatin Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using lovastatin?

Before taking lovastatin, tell your doctor (and pharmacist) if you:

• You are allergic to lovastatin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in lovastatin tablets or extended release tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of ingredients
• You are taking this medication: antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), and voriconazole (Vfend) boceprevir (Victrelis) clarithromycin (Biaxin) medication containing cobicistat (StribryCd) erythromycin (EESfa, EESfa) Certain HIV proteases include atazanavir (Reyataz), darunavir (Prezista), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir (in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), saquinavir (Invirase), and tipranavir. (Aptivus) telaprevir (Incivek) and telithromycin (Ketek). Your doctor may tell you not to take lovastatin if you are taking one or more of these medicines
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or planning to take. Make sure you mention: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) anticoagulants (“blood thinners”) such as warfarin (Coumadin) cimetidine (Tagamet) colchicine (Colcrys) cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) danazol (Danocrine) diltiazem (Cardizemone, Dilacor), Tiazac (Multaq) other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as fenofibrate (Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), and niacin (nicotinic acid, Niacor, Niaspan) spironolactone (Aldactone) ranolazine (Ranexa) and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan). Many other drugs may also interact with lovastatin, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the drugs you are currently taking, even if some are not on this list. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or watch you carefully for side effects
• You have liver disease. The doctor will do laboratory tests to see how your liver is working even if you don't think you have liver disease. Your doctor may tell you not to take lovastatin if you have liver disease or tests show you may start to have liver disease
• You drink more than two types of alcoholic drinks every day, if you are 65 or older, you have had liver disease or seizures, muscle pain or weakness, low blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease
• You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. You should not get pregnant if you are taking lovastatin. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods you can use during treatment. If you become pregnant while taking lovastatin, stop treatment and contact your doctor immediately. Lovastatin might harm the fetus
• do not breastfeed while taking this medicine
• If you have surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking lovastatin. If you are hospitalized for an injury or serious infection, tell the doctor treating you that you are taking lovastatin
• ask your doctor about drinking alcohol safely if you are taking lovastatin. Alcohol can increase the risk of serious side effects

Is lovastatin safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category X according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

Lovastatin may pass into breast milk and can harm the baby. Do not breastfeed while you are taking lovastatin.

Lovastatin Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with lovastatin?

Drug interactions may change how medications work or increase the risk of serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change your dose without your doctor's approval.

• delavirdine
• fenofibrate
• fluconazole

Can food or alcohol interact with lovastatin?

Certain drugs cannot be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with a healthcare professional about using drugs with food, alcohol, or cigarettes.

• Grapefruit juice

What health conditions can interact with lovastatin?

The presence of other drug problems may affect the use of this drug. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• alcohol abuse, or a history
• diabetes, which is poorly controlled
• hypothyroid (thyroid deficiency), or
• liver disease, history — use with caution, may worsen side effects
• electrolyte abnormalities, severe
• endocrine disorders, not well controlled
• hypotension (low blood pressure)
• kidney disease, severe
• metabolic disorders, severe
• sepsis (severe infection) - patients with this condition may be at risk for muscle or kidney problems
• hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol level in the blood), familial homozygous — less effective in patients with this condition
• liver disease, active
• elevated liver enzymes — should not be used in patients with this condition

Lovastatin overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.