Lovastatin Information
Pronunciation
LOE va sta tin
What is this drug used for?
• It is used to slow the progress of heart disease.
• It is used to prevent heart attacks.
• It is used to prevent chest pain.
• It is used to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol (HDL).
• It is used to lower triglycerides.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.
Frequently reported side effects of this drug
• Headache
• Back pain
• Flu-like symptoms
Other side effects of this drug: Talk with your doctor right away if you have any of these signs of:
• Liver problems like dark urine, fatigue, lack of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, light-colored stools, vomiting, or yellow skin.
• Unable to pass urine
• Change in amount of urine passed
• Muscle pain
• Muscle tenderness
• Muscle weakness
• Signs of a significant reaction like wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Medication Safety Issues
Sound-alike/look-alike issues:
Lovastatin may be confused with atorvaSTATin, Leustatin, Livostin, Lotensin, nystatin, pitavastatin
Mevacor may be confused with Benicar, Lipitor
International issues:
Lovacol [Chile and Finland] may be confused with Levatol brand name for penbutolol [U.S.]
Lovastin [Malaysia, Poland, and Singapore] may be confused with Livostin brand name for levocabastine [multiple international markets]
Mevacor [US, Canada, and multiple international markets] may be confused with Mivacron brand name for mivacurium [multiple international markets]
Storage and Stability
Tablet, immediate release: Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Protect from light
Tablet, extended release: Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F). Avoid excessive heat and humidity.
Adverse Reactions
Adverse reactions reported with immediate release tablets; similar adverse reactions seen with extended release tablets.
Central nervous system: Dizziness, headache
Dermatologic: Skin rash
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Increased creatine phosphokinase (>2x normal), muscle cramps, myalgia, weakness
Ophthalmic: Blurred vision
Rare but important or life-threatening: Acid regurgitation, alopecia, amnesia (reversible), arthralgia, chest pain, cognitive dysfunction (reversible), cystitis (interstitial; Huang 2015), dermatomyositis, diabetes mellitus (new-onset), elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), eye irritation, increased blood glucose, insomnia, interstitial pulmonary disease, leg pain, memory impairment (reversible), paresthesia, pruritus, reversible confusional state, vomiting, xerostomia
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