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lovastatin, Mevacor, Altoprev (cont.)

Pharmacy Author:

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

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Medical and Pharmacy Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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Lovastatin may increase the effect of warfarin (Coumadin), a blood thinner. Patients taking lovastatin and warfarin (Coumadin) should be monitored carefully for toxic effects of warfarin.

PREGNANCY: Pregnant women should not use lovastatin because the developing fetus requires cholesterol for development, and lovastatin reduces the production of cholesterol. Lovastatin should only be administered to women of child bearing age if they are not likely to become pregnant.

NURSING MOTHERS: Because of the risk of adverse effects to the developing infant, lovastatin should not be administered to nursing mothers.

SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects of lovastatin are headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscle pain, and abnormal liver tests. Hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported. The most serious potential side effects are liver damage and muscle inflammation or breakdown. Lovastatin is a statin. Therefore it shares side effects, such as liver and muscle damage associated with all statins. Serious liver damage caused by statins is rare. More often, statins cause abnormalities of liver tests, and, therefore, periodic measurement of liver tests in the blood is recommended during treatment with all statins. Abnormal tests usually return to normal even if a statin is continued, but if the abnormal test value is greater than three times the upper limit of normal, the statin usually is stopped. Liver tests should be measured before lovastatin is started, at 6 and 12 weeks after initiation of therapy, with an increase in dose, and periodically thereafter or if there is a medical concern about liver damage.

Inflammation of the muscles caused by statins can lead to a serious breakdown of muscle cells called rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis causes the release of muscle protein (myoglobin) into the blood. Myoglobin can cause kidney failure and even death. When used alone, statins cause rhabdomyolysis in less than one percent of patients. To prevent the development of rhabdomyolysis, patients taking lovastatin should contact their healthcare provider immediately if they develop unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or muscle tenderness.

Reference: FDA Prescribing Information

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