Lovastatin

Before starting lovastatin, you should follow a cholesterol-lowering diet. If appropriate, a weight control and physical exercise program should also be followed.

The usual starting dose for adults is 20 mg taken daily as a single dose, with the evening meal. At 4 week intervals, depending on how well the medication has worked for you, your doctor may increase your dose to a maximum of 80 mg taken daily. The higher doses may be taken in 2 divided doses (morning and evening meals).

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones given here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Lovastatin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Lovastatin at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause headaches; it may cause diarrhea or constipation, depending on the person; it may cause gas and bloating; it may cause muscle pain; it may cause nausea or, rarely, vomiting. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

20 mg
Each blue, octagonal, flat-faced, bevelled-edged tablet, marked "LS/20" on one side and a logo on the other, contains lovastatin 20 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose monohydrate, pregelatinized maize starch (corn), microcrystalline cellulose, butylated hydroxyanisole, magnesium stearate, and FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake.

40 mg
Each green, octagonal, flat-faced, bevelled-edged, scored tablet, marked "LS/40" on one side and a logo on the other, contains lovastatin 40 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: lactose monohydrate, pregelatinized maize starch (corn), microcrystalline cellulose, butylated hydroxyanisole, magnesium stearate, FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake, and D&C Yellow No. 10.

Do not take lovastatin if you:

• are allergic to lovastatin or any ingredients of the medication
• are pregnant or breast-feeding
• have active liver disease or unexplained increases in liver function tests
• are taking any of the following medications:
  • "azole" antifungal medications (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
  • protease inhibitors such as atazanavir, ritonavir, boceprevir, or telaprevir
  • erythromycin or clarithromycin
  • nefazodone
  • Cobicistat
  • Cyclosporine

There may be an interaction between lovastatin and any of the following:

• Abiraterone acetate
• Amiodarone
• antacids (e.g., aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide)
• Aprepitant
• atorvastatin
• “azole” antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)
• Bicalutamide
• Bezafibrate
• boceprevir
• Bosentan
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• Carvedilol
• Cholestyramine
• cobicistat
• Colchicine
• Colestipol
• conivaptan
• cyclosporine
• Cyproterone
• daptomycin
• Danazol
• Deferasirox
• Desipramine
• Dexamethasone
• Dipyridamole
• Doxorubicin
• Dronedarone
• Enzalutamide
• fenofibrate
• gemfibrozil
• grapefruit juice
• Haloperidol
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delaviridine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Lisinopril
• Lomitapide
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Mefloquine
• Metronidazole
• mifepristone
• Mirabegron
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• nefazodone
• niacin
• Propranolol
• niacinamide
• Norfloxacin
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Prazosin
• primidone
• Progesterone
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., Bosutinib, Dasatinib, imatinib, Nilotinib)
• proton pump inhibitors (e.g., Lansoprazole, Omeprazole)
• quinidine
• quinine
• raltegravir
• reserpine
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• St. John's wort
• Sertraline
• Sildenafil
• Sitagliptin
• sitaxentan
• siltuximab
• Stiripentol
• Tacrolimus
• Tamoxifen
• telaprevir
• tenofovir
• Tetracycline
• Ticagrelor
• Tocilizumab
• trabectedin
• Trazodone
• Vinblastine
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Lovastatin. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Lovastatin.

Alcohol: The combination of alcohol use while taking lovastatin can increase the risk of harm to the liver. People who drink large quantities of alcohol should be closely monitored by their doctor while they are taking Lovastatin.

Diabetes: Lovastatin may cause an increase in blood sugar levels (may cause a loss of blood glucose control) and glucose tolerance may change.People with diabetes may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar more frequently while using Lovastatin.

If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, discuss with your doctor how Lovastatin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of thismedication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Kidney function: People with severely reduced kidney function should be closely monitored by their doctors if they take Lovastatin

Liver effects: Laboratory test results show that signs of harmful liver effects occur in about 1.6% of adults who take lovastatin for one year or more. When the medication is stopped, the laboratory tests usually slowly return to normal. If you take lovastatin, your doctor will likely monitor your liver function with blood tests.

If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Lovastatin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Lovastatin, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Lovastatin.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Muscle effects: In rare cases, serious muscle damage has been associated with the use of statin medications (i.e., cholesterol-lowering medications whose names end in "statin," such as Atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, lovastatin, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin, or Simvastatin), especially at higher doses. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• are over 70 years of age
• are taking other cholesterol-lowering medications, such as fibrates (e.g., Gemfibrozil, Fenofibrate) or Niacin
• are taking other medications, including prescription, non-prescription, and natural health products, as drug interactions are possible
• do excessive physical exercise
• drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages daily
• have a family history of muscular disorders
• have diabetes
• have had any past problems with the muscles (e.g., pain, tenderness) after using a statin
• have kidney or liver problems
• have Thyroid problems
• have undergone surgery or other tissue injury

Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness or cramps, or any brown or discoloured urine to your doctor immediately, particularly if you are also experiencing malaise (a general feeling of being unwell) or fever.

Pregnancy: Lovastatin should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, stop taking it immediately and call your doctor.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if lovastatin passes into breast milk.

If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Lovastatin, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Lovastatin have not been established for children.

Seniors: If you are older than 70 years of age, your doctor will likely monitor you closely for muscle-related side effects.

This medication is typically used only once a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. It must be used regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Be sure to keep an adequate supply on hand. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember -- unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose. Do not double the next dose to catch up. This medication is more effective if taken with food. Always take it with a meal or a snack. Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during your treatment. Grapefruit can seriously affect how this medication works. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption during treatment.