What is Generic Lovastatin?

Generic Lovastatin (Generic Mevacor) blocks the body's ability to make cholesterol. Lovastatin can help lower blood cholesterol for patients who are at risk of getting heart disease or a stroke. Generic Lovastatin is only for patients whose cholesterol level is not controlled by diet.

Precautions when taking Generic Lovastatin

Before taking lovastatin you should notify your doctor if you have any of these conditions:

• an alcohol problem
• any hormone disorder (such as diabetes, under-active thyroid)
• blood salt imbalance
• infection
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• low blood pressure
• muscle disorder or condition
• recent surgery
• seizures (convulsions)
• severe injury
• an unusual or allergic reaction to lovastatin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I take Generic Lovastatin?

Generic lovastatin tablets should be taken by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take generic lovastatin tablets with food. If you take generic lovastatin once a day, take the dose with the evening meal. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Do not take generic lovastatin with grapefruit juice; orange juice may be used instead. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Recommended Dosage of Generic Lovastatin

Adults: The recommended starting dose is 20 milligrams once a day, taken with the evening meal. Your doctor may start you at 10 milligrams a day if you need only a small reduction in cholesterol. The maximum recommended dose is 80 milligrams per day, taken as a single dose or divided into smaller doses, as determined by your doctor. Adjustments to any dose, as determined by your doctor, should be made at intervals of 4 weeks or more. If you are taking cyclosporine, Lopid, Atromid-S, Tricor, or nicotinic acid in combination with Mevacor, your dose of Mevacor should not exceed 20 milligrams per day. If you are taking amiodarone (Cordarone) or verapamil (Calan), your dose of Mevacor should not exceed 40 milligrams a day. Cholesterol levels should be monitored periodically by your doctor, who may decide to reduce the dose if your cholesterol level falls below the targeted range. If you have reduced kidney function, your doctor will be cautious about increasing your dosage.

Children: The recommended dosage is 10 to 40 milligrams per day, taken with meals. Adjustments to any dose, as determined by the doctor, should be made at intervals of 4 weeks or more. Girls must have been menstruating for at least 1 year before starting therapy with Mevacor.

The safety and effectiveness of Mevacor in children under 10 years old or in doses greater than 40 milligrams a day have not been studied.

Side Effects of Generic Lovastatin

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• blurred vision, or vision changes
• dark yellow or brown urine
• decreased urination, difficulty passing urine
• fever
• muscle pain, tenderness, cramps, or weakness
• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
• skin rash, itching
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• yellowing of the skin or eyes

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• constipation or diarrhea
• difficulty sleeping
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea, vomiting
• stomach pain or indigestion

Generic Lovastatin Drug Interactions

Do not take Generic Lovastatin with any of the following:

• amprenavir
• atazanavir
• clarithromycin
• delavirdine
• erythromycin
• grapefruit juice
• indinavir
• itraconazole
• ketoconazole
• lopinavir; ritonavir
• mibefradil
• nefazodone
• nelfinavir
• ritonavir
• saquinavir
• troleandomycin
• went yeast (dietary supplement)

Lovastatin may also interact with the following medications:

• alcohol
• amiodarone
• barbiturates (examples: phenobarbital, butalbital, primidone)
• bosentan
• carbamazepine
• cilostazol
• cyclosporine
• danazol
• diltiazem
• efavirenz
• imatinib, STI-571
• isradipine
• fluconazole
• medicines to lower cholesterol or triglycerides (examples: clofibrate, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, niacin)
• medicine used to stop early pregnancy (mifepristone, RU-486)
• nicardipine
• oxcarbazepine
• phenytoin
• rifampin, rifabutin, or rifapentine
• St. John's Wort
• telithromycin
• verapamil
• voriconazole
• warfarin

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.