Lovastatin

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Dec 13, 2023

Warnings

Lovastatin Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Lovastatin can cause serious adverse reactions in certain people. Talk to your doctor about other treatments for high cholesterol if you are at a high risk of complications from lovastatin use. Some of the potential risks of taking lovastatin include:

RISK OF SERIOUS MUSCLE PROBLEMS: Rarely, lovastatin and other statin drugs that are used to lower serum cholesterol can cause serious muscle problems (myopathy) with symptoms such as muscle cramps, pain, tenderness, and weakness. Severe rhabdomyolysis (muscle damage) can lead to acute renal failure. The risk of this complication is higher in people with kidney disease or thyroid disease, older adults, females, those on high doses of lovastatin, and those taking certain other medications. Tell your doctor right away and seek emergency medical attention if you develop sudden or unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or fever while on lovastatin.
AUTOIMMUNE MYOPATHY: There are reports of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with HMG CoA reductase inhibitor use. This is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks muscle cells. Discontinue lovastatin and tell your doctor right away if you develop severe muscle weakness.
LIVER DYSFUNCTION: There are reports of liver damage and an increase in liver enzymes to three times the normal levels in people who took lovastatin for at least a year. The risk is especially high in people who are heavy alcohol drinkers or have pre-existing liver problems. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop nausea, right upper abdominal pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the eyes or skin. Your doctor may check liver function periodically while you are on lovastatin oral.
HIGH BLOOD SUGAR: Lovastatin can increase your blood glucose (sugar) levels and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). If you have diabetes and measure your blood glucose at home, tell your doctor if you notice higher than usual blood sugars while on lovastatin. Your provider may change your dose or switch you to another medicine.
RISK DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: Lovastatin can cause harm to an unborn baby if it is used by pregnant women. This medication should not be used if you are breast-feeding. Discuss appropriate birth control methods with your healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor about alternative treatments for high cholesterol if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while on lovastatin.

Precautions Before Starting Lovastatin

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to lovastatin, any of the active or inactive ingredients in lovastatin tablets, other statin medications, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible interactions between lovastatin and your other medications.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Lovastatin may not be safe for people with certain health conditions, such as heavy alcohol use (more than 2 drinks a day), liver disease, muscle problems, low blood pressure, seizures, renal impairment (kidney disease), or diabetes mellitus.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding.

Precautions During Use of Lovastatin

Keep all your healthcare appointments during lovastatin therapy. Your health care professional may increase your lovastatin dose at 4-week intervals, as needed. They may also want to check plasma concentrations of cholesterol and certain other blood tests during treatment with this medicine.

Avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit while on lovastatin. Also, avoid drinking alcohol while on lovastatin because alcohol can increase the risk of serious side effects.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while on lovastatin.

Tell your healthcare providers you are on lovastatin before any surgery, including dental procedures, or if you are being treated for a serious infection or injury.

Lovastatin Drug Interactions

Certain other medicines can affect how lovastatin works. Lovastatin and other medicines taken together can increase the risk of severe adverse reactions. Your doctor may change the dose of your medications, switch you to another drug, and/or monitor you carefully for adverse effects if there are known interactions between lovastatin and your other medicines.

You should not take lovastatin if you are taking:

Antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), voriconazole (Vfend), and posaconazole (Noxafil)
Antiviral drugs such as boceprevir (Victrelis) and telaprevir (Incivek)
Certain antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryC), and telithromycin (Ketek)
Medications used to boost the effects of HIV drugs (cobicistat-containing medications like Stribild)
HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan), darunavir (Prezista), atazanavir (Reyataz), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), lopinavir (in Kaletra), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), saquinavir (Invirase), and tipranavir (Aptivus)
Antidepressants such as nefazodone

Other medications that can have interactions with lovastatin include:

Anticoagulants or blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Medications prescribed for heart rhythm abnormalities such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) and dronedarone (Multaq)
H2 blockers such as cimetidine (Tagamet)
Gout medications such as colchicine (Colcrys)
Immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
Medications prescribed for endometriosis, such as danazol (Danocrine)
Calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, Dilacor) and verapamil (Isoptin, Covera, Calan, Verelan)
Other cholesterol-lowering medications such as gemfibrozil (Lopid), fenofibrate (Tricor), and niacin (nicotinic acid, Niaspan, Niacor)
Diuretics (water pills) such as spironolactone (Aldactone)
Antianginal medications such as ranolazine (Ranexa)

The above list may not include all the possible interactions of lovastatin. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

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