6 mins read

Overview: Lovastatin is used to treat high cholesterol levels and to lower your risk of certain heart and blood vessel problems, including heart disease or a heart attack. It works by decreasing the amount of cholesterol made by your liver and by increasing the removal of bad cholesterol from the blood. Common side effects include headache, muscle pain, constipation, and diarrhea. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness, muscle cramps, or dark-colored pee, as these may be signs of a serious side effect. Lovastatin is a tablet that is taken by mouth.

Uses

What is lovastatin used for?

Lovastatin is commonly used to lower bad cholesterol levels (LDL-C) in the blood, which helps reduce the buildup of cholesterol in your blood vessels (atherosclerosis), the risk of heart attack, chest pain, and the need for heart surgery.

Lovastatin may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does lovastatin work (mechanism of action)?

Lovastatin lowers blood cholesterol levels by decreasing the amount of cholesterol made by your liver and by increasing the removal of bad cholesterol from the blood.

How is lovastatin supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Altoprev
  • Mevacor

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 10 mg oral tablets
  • 20 mg oral tablets
  • 40 mg oral tablets

How should I store lovastatin?

Lovastatin should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F and 77 F (20 C and 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F and 86 F (15 C and 30 C), for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place. Protect from light.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of lovastatin?

The most common side effects of lovastatin are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Headache
  • Muscle spasms or pain
  • Constipation 
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain
  • Stuffy or runny nose, flu-like symptoms
  • Pain (including back pain)
  • Infection

There may be other side effects of lovastatin that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of lovastatin?

While less common, the most serious side effects of lovastatin are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Muscle Problems. Lovastatin can cause muscle problems, including muscle pain, weakness, and tenderness, called myopathy. In some people, the muscle may break down (rhabdomyolysis), which can be serious and rarely lead to kidney damage and death. Stop taking lovastatin and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis.

  • Unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness
  • Low energy levels or feeling easily tired, especially with activity
  • Dark-colored urine (pee)
  • Fever
  • Muscle cramps
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea or vomiting

Severe Allergic Reactions. Lovastatin may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking lovastatin and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching or skin rash
  • Bumps on the skin called hives that can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking lovastatin. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Stomach or belly pain
  • Fever
  • Weakness or unusual tiredness
  • Itching
  • Loss of appetite
  • Light-colored poop
  • Dark-colored urine (pee)
  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Increased Blood Sugar. Lovastatin can sometimes increase blood sugar (glucose), which is called hyperglycemia. Talk to your health care provider about how to lower your risk for high blood sugar.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use lovastatin?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take lovastatin.

  • Altoprev
  • Lovastatin
  • Mevacor
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific lovastatin products they stock.

Liver Problems. Lovastatin should not be taken if your liver is not working as well as it should be. If there is a concern about the health of your liver, your health care provider may do tests to see if it is working well enough to take this medicine.

Drug Interactions. Lovastatin should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Before taking lovastatin, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

What should I know about lovastatin before using it?

Do not take lovastatin unless it has been prescribed to you by a health care provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share lovastatin with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep lovastatin out of the reach of children.

Take lovastatin in the evening. Certain forms of lovastatin should be taken with the evening meal. Ask your pharmacist or other health care provider about the best way to take your medicine.

Keep all appointments with your health care provider, including for blood work, while you are taking this medicine. Maintain a healthy body weight and diet to reduce the risk of high blood sugar that can occur from taking lovastatin.

People who are age 65 years and older can be at a greater risk for some side effects of lovastatin, including muscle pain, weakness, and injury. Talk to your health care provider about your risks if you are in this age group.

What should I tell my health care provider before using lovastatin?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if lovastatin is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

  • Muscle weakness or pain that cannot be explained
  • Kidney problems
  • Liver problems
  • Diabetes
  • History of stroke
  • Thyroid problems

Pregnancy. Lovastatin may cause harm to a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking lovastatin and contact your health care provider right away. 

Breastfeeding. Do not take lovastatin while you are breastfeeding. It is not known if lovastatin passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Interactions

Does lovastatin interact with foods or drinks?

Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking lovastatin. Grapefruit juice can make lovastatin stay in your body for longer than normal, and possibly reach a higher blood level. This can increase the risk of muscle pain and damage from lovastatin.

Limit the amount of alcohol you drink while taking lovastatin. The risk of liver damage may be increased if you drink large amounts of alcohol. Tell your health care provider if you drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol per day before taking lovastatin.

Does lovastatin interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking lovastatin.

  • A medicine used for HIV, AIDS, or hepatitis C
  • Itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), ketoconazole, posaconazole (Noxafil), or voriconazole (Vfend), which is a medicine used for fungal infections
  • Clarithromycin or erythromycin (Ery-Tab and others), which is a medicine used for bacterial infections
  • Colchicine, which is a medicine commonly used for gout
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), which is a medicine that suppresses your immune system
  • Digoxin (Lanoxin), which is a medicine used to treat irregular heartbeat and some types of heart failure
  • Amiodarone, diltiazem, dronedarone, ranolazine, and verapamil, which is a medicine used for certain heart conditions or high blood pressure
  • Niacin or a fibrate, such as fenofibrate (Tricor), fenofibric acid (Fibricor, Trilipix), or gemfibrozil (Lopid), which is a medicine for high cholesterol

Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of lovastatin, and vice versa. Tell your health care provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with lovastatin. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much lovastatin?

If you or someone else has used too much lovastatin, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of lovastatin?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.