The following information is a summary about Mevacor. It is not intended to replace a doctor's instructions.
Why is this Mevacor medication prescribed?
Mevacor/Lovastatin is used with diet changes (restriction of cholesterol and fat intake) to reduce the amount of cholesterol and certain fatty substances in your blood. Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats with Mevacor may help to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attacks.
This Mevacor medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or Mevacor pharmacist for more Mevacor information.
How should this Mevacor medicine be used?
Mevacor/Lovastatin comes in tablets to take by mouth. Mevacor usually is taken once a day initially and then either once or twice a day. Take this Mevacor medication with your evening meal, or with your morning and evening meals if you take it twice a day. Follow the Mevacor directions on your Mevacor prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Mevacor/lovastatin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of Mevacor or take Mevacor more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Continue to take Mevacor/lovastatin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Mevacor/lovastatin without talking to your doctor.
What special Mevacor precautions should I follow?
Before taking Mevacor/lovastatin,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Mevacor/lovastatin or any other drugs.
tell your doctor and Mevacor pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially antacids, anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), cholestyramine (Questran), clarithromycin (Biaxin), clofibrate (Atromid-S), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, others), fenofibrate (TriCor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), HIV protease inhibitors such as ritonavir (Norvir) and saquinavir (Invirase), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), nefazodone (Serzone), niacin (nicotinic acid), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan), and vitamins.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease, kidney disease, a severe infection, low blood pressure, or seizures.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Mevacor/lovastatin, stop taking Mevacor/lovastatin and call your doctor immediately. Mevacor/Lovastatin can harm the fetus.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Mevacor/lovastatin.
talk to your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while taking this Mevacor drug. Alcohol increases the side effects caused by Mevacor/lovastatin.
plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Mevacor/Lovastatin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
What special Mevacor dietary instructions should I follow?
Avoid drinking large quantities of grapefruit juice (more than 1 quart every day) while taking Mevacor/lovastatin.
Eat a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet. This kind of diet includes cottage cheese, fat-free milk, fish (not canned in oil), vegetables, poultry, egg whites, and polyunsaturated oils and margarines (corn, safflower, canola, and soybean oils). Avoid foods with excess fat in them such as meat (especially liver and fatty meat), egg yolks, whole milk, cream, butter, shortening, lard, pastries, cakes, cookies, gravy, peanut butter, chocolate, olives, potato chips, coconut, cheese (other than cottage cheese), coconut oil, palm oil, and fried foods.
Mevacor Side Effects
Although side effects from Mevacor/lovastatin are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these Mevacor symptoms are severe or do not go away:
gas
stomach pain or cramps
diarrhea
constipation
heartburn
headache
blurred vision
dizziness
rash or itching
upset stomach
If you experience the following Mevacor symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with or without a fever
What should I do if I forget a Mevacor dose?
Take the missed Mevacor dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next Mevacor dose, skip the missed Mevacor dose and continue your regular Mevacor dosing schedule. Do not take a double Mevacor dose to make up for a missed one.
What storage conditions are needed for Mevacor?
Keep Mevacor in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store Mevacor at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any Mevacor medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your Mevacor medication.
Other uses for this Mevacor medicine
This Mevacor medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more Mevacor information.
What other Mevacor information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests before and during treatment to check your response to Mevacor.
Do not let anyone else take your Mevacor medication. Ask your Mevacor pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your Mevacor prescription.
In case of Mevacor emergency/overdose
In case of Mevacor overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
