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lovastatin

lovastatin

[en Español]

lovastatin

Pronunciation: LOE va sta tin

Brand: Altoprev, Mevacor

Lovastatin

slide 1 of 35, Lovastatin,

20 mg, round, blue, imprinted with 576, TEVA

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 2 of 35, Lovastatin,

10 mg, round, peach, imprinted with 926, TEVA

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Lovastatin

slide 3 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, green, imprinted with 928, TEVA

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 4 of 35, Lovastatin,

10 mg, round, orange, imprinted with E 70

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Lovastatin

slide 5 of 35, Lovastatin,

20 mg, round, blue, imprinted with E 72

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 6 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, green, imprinted with E 74

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 7 of 35, Lovastatin,

20 mg, round, white, imprinted with CTI, 142

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Lovastatin

slide 8 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, white, imprinted with CTI 143

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 9 of 35, Lovastatin,

20 mg, round, pink, imprinted with 634

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Lovastatin

slide 10 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with 635

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 11 of 35, Lovastatin,

10 mg, round, white, imprinted with CTI 141

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 12 of 35, Lovastatin,

20 mg, round, white, imprinted with CTI 142

Image of Lovastatin
slide 12 of 35
    

Lovastatin

slide 13 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, white, imprinted with CTI 143

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 14 of 35, Lovastatin,

20 mg, round, pink, imprinted with LOGO, 634

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 15 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with LOGO, 635

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 16 of 35, Lovastatin,

10 mg, round, white, imprinted with CTI 141

Image of Lovastatin
slide 16 of 35
    

Lovastatin

slide 17 of 35, Lovastatin,

20 mg, round, white, imprinted with CTI 142

Image of Lovastatin
slide 17 of 35
    

Lovastatin

slide 18 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, white, imprinted with CTI 143

Image of Lovastatin
slide 18 of 35
    

Lovastatin

slide 19 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, green, imprinted with E 74

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Lovastatin

slide 20 of 35, Lovastatin,

10 mg, oval, green, imprinted with LU, G01

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Lovastatin

slide 21 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, green, imprinted with LU, G03

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Altoprev

slide 22 of 35, Altoprev,

20 mg, round, orange, imprinted with LOGO 20

Image of Altoprev
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Altoprev

slide 23 of 35, Altoprev,

40 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with LOGO 40

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Altoprev

slide 24 of 35, Altoprev,

60 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with LOGO 60

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Lovastatin

slide 25 of 35, Lovastatin,

10 mg, round, white, imprinted with APO, L10

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Lovastatin

slide 26 of 35, Lovastatin,

10 mg, round, orange, imprinted with MP 532

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Lovastatin

slide 27 of 35, Lovastatin,

10 mg, round, white, imprinted with M L19

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Lovastatin

slide 28 of 35, Lovastatin,

20 mg, round, white, imprinted with APO, LOV 20

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Lovastatin

slide 29 of 35, Lovastatin,

20 mg, round, blue, imprinted with MP 533

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 30 of 35, Lovastatin,

20 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with M L20

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 31 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, white, imprinted with LOV 40, APO

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Lovastatin

slide 32 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, green, imprinted with MP 534

Image of Lovastatin
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Lovastatin

slide 33 of 35, Lovastatin,

40 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M L21

Image of Lovastatin
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Mevacor

slide 34 of 35, Mevacor,

20 mg, octagonal, blue, imprinted with MEVACOR, MSD 731

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Mevacor

slide 35 of 35, Mevacor,

40 mg, octagonal, green, imprinted with MEVACOR, MSD 732

Image of Mevacor
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What is the most important information I should know about lovastatin?

You should not take lovastatin if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have active liver disease.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

Stop taking this medication and tell your doctor right away if you get pregnant.

What is lovastatin?

Lovastatin is used together with diet to lower blood levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL), to increase levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL), and to lower triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood).

Lovastatin is used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart complications in people with diabetes, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors.

Lovastatin is used in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.

Lovastatin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lovastatin?

You should not use lovastatin if you are allergic to it, or if:

  • you are pregnant or breast-feeding; or
  • you have active liver disease.

Some medicines can increase your risk of serious muscle problems when used with lovastatin. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use:

  • cyclosporine;
  • danazol;
  • gemfibrozil;
  • an antibiotic or antifungal medicine;
  • antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV; or
  • heart medication.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • liver or kidney disease;
  • diabetes;
  • a thyroid disorder; or
  • if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily.

Lovastatin can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure. This happens more often in older adults or people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

Do not use lovastatin if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby or cause birth defects. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Stop taking lovastatin and tell your doctor right away if you get pregnant.

Do not breast-feed while you are taking lovastatin.

How should I take lovastatin?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

You may need frequent medical tests. You may not have any symptoms, but tests will help your doctor determine if this medicine is effective.

Lovastatin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

You may need to stop using lovastatin for a short time if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Do not stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking lovastatin?

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage.

Grapefruit may interact with lovastatin and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking lovastatin.

Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol. Lovastatin will not be as effective if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

What are the possible side effects of lovastatin?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Lovastatin can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, or dark colored urine.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

  • kidney problems --little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath; or
  • liver problems --loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects may include:

  • infections;
  • headache; or
  • accidental injury.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect lovastatin?

Many drugs can interact with lovastatin, and some drugs should not be used together. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about lovastatin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 15.02. Revision date: 9/27/2019.

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