lovastatin
Lovastatin is a low-to-moderate intensity statin that's taken once or twice per day. It's used to lower cholesterol in certain adults and children ages 10 years and older to help prevent heart attack or stroke. This medication lowers your "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides (a type of fat) levels. It can also raise your "good" cholesterol (HDL). Follow a heart-healthy diet and get regular exercise while you're taking lovastatin so the medication can work as best as possible. Lovastatin side effects include stomach upset and headache.
What is Lovastatin?
What is Lovastatin used for?
Lower "bad" cholesterol levels
Prevention of heart or blood vessel problems (e.g., heart attack) in people at risk for heart disease
How Lovastatin works
Lovastatin is a statin. It works by blocking a protein in your liver that makes cholesterol. This lowers the amount of "bad" cholesterol (called low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) in your blood. This medication might also help raise your "good" cholesterol (called high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) levels and lower your triglyceride levels. As a result, lovastatin helps lower the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke.
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What are the side effects of Lovastatin?
Common Side Effects
- Gas (4-5%)
- Constipation (2-4%)
- Nausea (2-3%)
- Stomach pain (2-3%)
- Muscle pain (2-3%)
- Headache (2-3%)
Other Side Effects
- Weakness
- Muscle tenderness
- Muscle cramps
- Indigestion
- Liver problems
Serious Side Effects
- Severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis): dark brown urine, severe muscle weakness or pain, fever, tiredness
- Liver problems: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, swelling of your stomach, dark or brown urine, confusion
Source: DailyMed
More on Lovastatin side effects
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Bladder pain
bloody or cloudy urine
chest tightness
dark urine
difficult, burning, or painful urination
difficulty with moving
frequent urge to urinate
headache
joint pain or swelling
lower back or side pain
muscle ache, cramp, spasm, stiffness, pain, tenderness, or weakness
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
stuffy or runny nose
swollen joints
trouble breathing
unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
chills
difficulty swallowing
dizziness
fast heartbeat
general tiredness and weakness
indigestion
light-colored stools
loss of appetite
pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
red, irritated eyes
sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
upper right abdominal or stomach pain
vomiting
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Belching
bloated or full feeling
blurred vision
difficulty having a bowel movement
dizziness
excess air or gas in the stomach or bowels
lack or loss of strength
passing gas
stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
Incidence not known
Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
change in taste
changes to the hair or nails
confusion
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
discoloration or dryness of the skin or mucous membrane
false sense of well-being
fear or nervousness
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
forgetfulness
inability to have or keep an erection
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
loss of libido
memory loss
mood swings
partial or slight paralysis of the face
personality changes
sensation of spinning
swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
trouble sleeping
unsteadiness or awkwardness
weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
white area over the eye
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Lovastatin
Pros
Helps lower "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides (fats) and improve "good" cholesterol (HDL) levels
Lowers the risk of problems caused by high cholesterol, like heart attack or stroke, in people with certain conditions (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure)
Available as a lower-cost generic
Cons
Doesn't replace having a balanced diet and regular exercise routine to lower cholesterol levels
Has more dosing limits for certain drug interactions than some other statins
Not safe to use if you're pregnant or breastfeeding
Pharmacist tips for Lovastatin
Mark your calendar with your appointments to get any blood work done when you take lovastatin. Your provider will order blood work to check your cholesterol levels and liver function during treatment. Your provider might change your dose based on your lab results.
Take lovastatin in the evening to help you get the most benefit from the medication. Ask your provider about taking this medication at a time that works best for you if it's hard for you to take it at night.
Take lovastatin with food. Make sure to swallow the tablets whole. Don't crush, chew, or split the tablets. Contact your provider if you're having trouble swallowing the tablets.
Let your provider know right away if you have muscle pain or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or feel very tired. This can be a sign of rare, but serious muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis.
Make sure to tell your provider about all of the medications you're taking. Several medications can interact with lovastatin, such as amiodarone (Pacerone), colchicine (Colcrys), and warfarin (Coumadin). Some drug interactions can either make the cholesterol medication work less well or put you at risk for side effects, like muscle damage.
Don't consume grapefruit and grapefruit juice while you're taking lovastatin. Grapefruit can raise the levels of lovastatin in your body, which raises your risk for side effects.
Ask your provider if it's safe for you to eat red yeast rice while you're taking lovastatin. Eating red yeast rice during treatment with this medication can raise your risk for side effects because the rice has a chemical that's similar to lovastatin in it.
To get the most out of the medication, it's important that you eat a healthy and balanced diet low in fat and follow a regular exercise routine while you're taking lovastatin. Talk with your provider if you have questions about how to plan your meals and what kind of exercise you should do.
Tell your provider right away if you become pregnant, are thinking of getting pregnant, or are breastfeeding while you're taking lovastatin. This medication can cause harm to babies.
More on Lovastatin tips
Frequently asked questions about Lovastatin
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What are the risks and warnings for Lovastatin?
Lovastatin can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe muscle pain and damage
Risk factors: Age 65 years and older | Higher dose of lovastatin | Kidney problems | Taking other medications that can also cause muscle problems or interact with lovastatin
Lovastatin can cause a rare, but serious and life-threatening muscle problem called rhabdomyolysis. If severe, this muscle problem can lead to kidney injury. Your risk for rhabdomyolysis is higher if you take other medications that can either raise the levels of lovastatin in your body or also cause muscle damage. Stop lovastatin and get medical attention right away if you notice any symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, such as severe muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness; dark-colored urine; and tiredness.
In some rare cases, statins like lovastatin can cause immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), an autoimmune condition that causes muscle inflammation and muscle weakness. This muscle problem might continue even if you stop taking the statin. If you develop IMNM, you'll need to stop the statin and you might need to take additional medications to dampen down your immune system.
Liver problems
Risk factors: History of liver problems | Drinking large amounts of alcohol
Some people who took lovastatin had changes to the liver enzyme levels in their blood, which can sometimes suggest liver damage. These changes can start to appear within the first year of treatment. Rarely, serious liver problems leading to liver failure have happened.
You might need to get blood tests to check your liver health before and during treatment to make sure your liver is working properly. Get medical attention right away if you notice yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; swelling of your stomach; stomach pain; nausea; vomiting; stool changes (black, tarry, or bloody stools); or dark or brown urine. You might need to stop using the medication to prevent further liver damage.
Higher blood sugar levels
Risk factors: High blood sugar
Some research suggests that statins like lovastatin might raise blood sugar levels, which can lead to higher hemoglobin A1C levels. But healthcare providers believe that the benefits of statins outweigh this risk. Tell your provider if you have diabetes or high blood sugar before you start lovastatin. You might need to check your blood sugar more often. Also, follow a healthy, balanced diet and do regular exercise while you're taking lovastatin.
Possible harm during pregnancy or breastfeeding
Lovastatin isn't recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding for most people. This medication can possibly cause harm to unborn and breastfed babies. Talk to your provider about the safest options for you if you're pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant, or breastfeeding.
More on Lovastatin warnings
Lovastatin dosage forms
Typical dosing for Lovastatin
Adults: The typical starting dose is 20 mg by mouth once a day with dinner. The maximum dose is 80 mg per day, which can be split into two smaller doses during the day.
Children ages 10 to under 18 years: The typical dose ranges from 10 mg to 40 mg by mouth per day.
During treatment, your provider might change your dose depending on your cholesterol levels, your kidney function, any side effects you have, and the other medications you're taking (if they interact with lovastatin).
More on Lovastatin dosage forms
Interactions between Lovastatin and other drugs
More on Lovastatin interactions
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Amprenavir
- Atazanavir
- Boceprevir
- Clarithromycin
- Cobicistat
- Darunavir
- Erythromycin
- Fosamprenavir
- Idelalisib
- Indinavir
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Lopinavir
- Mibefradil
- Mifepristone
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Posaconazole
- Ritonavir
- Saquinavir
- Telaprevir
- Telithromycin
- Tipranavir
- Voriconazole
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Amiodarone
- Bezafibrate
- Ceritinib
- Ciprofibrate
- Clofibrate
- Colchicine
- Conivaptan
- Cyclosporine
- Dabigatran Etexilate
- Dalfopristin
- Danazol
- Daptomycin
- Delavirdine
- Diltiazem
- Dronedarone
- Duvelisib
- Fenofibrate
- Fenofibric Acid
- Fluconazole
- Fosnetupitant
- Gemfibrozil
- Glecaprevir
- Ivosidenib
- Larotrectinib
- Lefamulin
- Letermovir
- Lomitapide
- Lorlatinib
- Lumacaftor
- Netupitant
- Niacin
- Pibrentasvir
- Quinupristin
- Ranolazine
- Verapamil
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Azithromycin
- Bosentan
- Clopidogrel
- Oat Bran
- Pectin
- St John's Wort
How much does Lovastatin cost?
Lovastatin contraindications
Take certain medications that can interact with lovastatin
Liver problems (such as liver failure and severe liver cirrhosis)
Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
What are alternatives to Lovastatin?
Lower "bad" cholesterol levels
Prevention of heart or blood vessel problems (e.g., heart attack) in people at risk for heart disease
Prevention of heart or blood vessel problems (e.g., heart attack or stroke) in people at higher-risk for heart problems
Lower high "bad" cholesterol and triglyceride levels in certain people
Lower the risk of heart or blood vessel problems (e.g., heart attack, stroke) in adults at risk for heart problems
Lower "bad" cholesterol and triglyceride levels in certain adults
Lower "bad" cholesterol levels in children age 8 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH)
What is the latest news about Lovastatin?
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References
Best studies we foundDuong, H., et al. (2023). Lovastatin. StatPearls.
Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2023). Lovastatin- lovastatin tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
McTaggart, F., et al. (2008). Effects of statins on high-density lipoproteins: A potential contribution to cardiovascular benefit. Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy.
Mukherjee, D. (2016). AHA statement on drug-drug interactions with statins. American College of Cardiology.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2022). Red yeast rice: What you need to know.
Singh, P., et al. (2018). Statins decrease leptin expression in human white adipocytes. Physiological Reports.
Stroie, O. P., et al. (2020). Statin-induced immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy: An increasingly recognized inflammatory myopathy. Cureus.
Sugiyama, T., et al (2014). Different time trends of caloric and fat intake between statin users and nonusers among US adults. Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine.
Yin, Y., et al. (2022). Statin therapy for preventing recurrent stroke in patients with ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational cohort studies. Neuroepidemiology.
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