Mevacor

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Mevacor (Lovastatin). If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Mevacor (Lovastatin) with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Mevacor (Lovastatin). Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• abdominal pain
• confusion
• Constipation
• cough
• Diarrhea
• dizziness
• gas
• headache
• nausea
• nightmares
• poor memory
• trouble sleeping
• upset stomach

Although most of these side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• blurred vision
• Fever
• shortness of breath
• signs of Depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)
• signs of liver damage (e.g., yellow skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, or itching)
• signs of muscle damage (e.g., muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, or brown or discoloured urine) - especially if you also have a fever or a general feeling of being unwell
• signs of nerve damage (e.g., muscle weakness, decreased sensation in the hands or feet, loss of balance, numbness, tingling or prickling sensations)
• skin rash
• symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g., frequent urination, increased thirst, excessive eating, unexplained weight loss, poor wound healing, infections, fruity breath odour)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• severe skin rash, including skin blistering and peeling (possibly with headache, fever, coughing, or aching before the rash begins)
• signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., swelling of the face or throat, Hives, or difficulty breathing)

Do not take Mevacor (Lovastatin) if you:

• are allergic to Mevacor (Lovastatin) or any ingredients of the medication
• are pregnant or breast-feeding
• have active liver disease or unexplained increases in liver function tests
• are taking any of the following medications:
• "azole" antifungal medications (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• protease inhibitors such as atazanavir, ritonavir, boceprevir, or telaprevir
• erythromycin or clarithromycin
• nefazodone
• Cobicistat
• Cyclosporine

There may be an interaction between Mevacor (Lovastatin) and any of the following:

• Abiraterone acetate
• Amiodarone
• antacids (e.g., aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide)
• Aprepitant
• atorvastatin
• “azole” antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)
• Bicalutamide
• Bezafibrate
• boceprevir
• Bosentan
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• Carvedilol
• Cholestyramine
• cobicistat
• Colchicine
• Colestipol
• conivaptan
• cyclosporine
• Cyproterone
• daptomycin
• Danazol
• Deferasirox
• Desipramine
• Dexamethasone
• Dipyridamole
• Doxorubicin
• Dronedarone
• Enzalutamide
• fenofibrate
• gemfibrozil
• grapefruit juice
• Haloperidol
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delaviridine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Lisinopril
• Lomitapide
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Mefloquine
• Metronidazole
• mifepristone
• Mirabegron
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• nefazodone
• niacin
• Propranolol
• niacinamide
• Norfloxacin
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Prazosin
• primidone
• Progesterone
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., Bosutinib, Dasatinib, imatinib, Nilotinib)
• proton pump inhibitors (e.g., Lansoprazole, Omeprazole)
• quinidine
• quinine
• raltegravir
• reserpine
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• St. John's wort
• Sertraline
• Sildenafil
• Sitagliptin
• sitaxentan
• siltuximab
• Stiripentol
• Tacrolimus
• Tamoxifen
• telaprevir
• tenofovir
• Tetracycline
• Ticagrelor
• Tocilizumab
• trabectedin
• Trazodone
• Vinblastine
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Mevacor (Lovastatin). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Mevacor (Lovastatin).

Alcohol: The combination of alcohol use while taking Mevacor (Lovastatin) can increase the risk of harm to the liver. People who drink large quantities of alcohol should be closely monitored by their doctor while they are taking Mevacor (Lovastatin).

Diabetes: Mevacor (Lovastatin) may cause an increase in blood sugar levels (may cause a loss of blood glucose control) and glucose tolerance may change.People with diabetes may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar more frequently while using Mevacor (Lovastatin).

If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, discuss with your doctor how Mevacor (Lovastatin) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of thismedication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Kidney function: People with severely reduced kidney function should be closely monitored by their doctors if they take Mevacor (Lovastatin)

Liver effects: Laboratory test results show that signs of harmful liver effects occur in about 1.6% of adults who take Mevacor (Lovastatin) for one year or more. When the medication is stopped, the laboratory tests usually slowly return to normal. If you take Mevacor (Lovastatin), your doctor will likely monitor your liver function with blood tests.

If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Mevacor (Lovastatin) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Mevacor (Lovastatin), and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Mevacor (Lovastatin).

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Muscle effects: In rare cases, serious muscle damage has been associated with the use of statin medications (i.e., cholesterol-lowering medications whose names end in "statin," such as Atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, Mevacor (Lovastatin), Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin, or Simvastatin), especially at higher doses. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• are over 70 years of age
• are taking other cholesterol-lowering medications, such as fibrates (e.g., Gemfibrozil, Fenofibrate) or Niacin
• are taking other medications, including prescription, non-prescription, and natural health products, as drug interactions are possible
• do excessive physical exercise
• drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages daily
• have a family history of muscular disorders
• have diabetes
• have had any past problems with the muscles (e.g., pain, tenderness) after using a statin
• have kidney or liver problems
• have Thyroid problems
• have undergone surgery or other tissue injury

Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness or cramps, or any brown or discoloured urine to your doctor immediately, particularly if you are also experiencing malaise (a general feeling of being unwell) or fever.

Pregnancy: Mevacor (Lovastatin) should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, stop taking it immediately and call your doctor.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if Mevacor (Lovastatin) passes into breast milk.

If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Mevacor (Lovastatin), it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Mevacor (Lovastatin) have not been established for children.