Mevacor

What is Mevacor?

Mevacor is a prescription medicine that is used to slow the progress of heart disease. It is used to prevent heart attacks. Mevacor is also used to prevent chest pain.

Description

MEVACOR (lovastatin) is a cholesterol lowering agent isolated from a strain of Aspergillus terreus. After oral ingestion, lovastatin, which is an inactive lactone, is hydrolyzed to the corresponding α- hydroxyacid form. This is a principal metabolite and an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, which is an early and rate limiting step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol.

Lovastatin is [1S-[1α(R*),3α,7α,8α(2S*,4S*), 8aα]]-1,2,3,7, 8,8a-hexahydro-3,7-dimethyl-8-[2-(tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-6-oxo-2H-pyran-2-yl)ethyl]-1-naphthalenyl 2-methylbutanoate. The empiricalformula of lovastatin is C₂₄H₃₆O₅ and its molecular weight is 404.55. Its structural formula is:

Lovastatin is a white, nonhygroscopic crystalline powder that is insoluble in water and sparingly soluble in ethanol, methanol, and acetonitrile.

Tablets MEVACOR are supplied as 20 mg and 40 mg tablets for oral administration. In addition to the active ingredient lovastatin, each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: cellulose, lactose, magnesium stearate, and starch. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is added as a preservative. Tablets MEVACOR 20 mg also contain FD&C Blue 2 aluminum lake. Tablets MEVACOR 40 mg also contain D&C Yellow 10 aluminum lake and FD&C Blue 2 aluminum lake.

It is used to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol (HDL). It is used to lower triglycerides. Mevacor may be given to you for other reasons.

Before taking Mevacor, tell your doctor:

• If you are allergic to Mevacor; any part of this medicine; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have any of these health problems: Active liver disease or a rise in liver enzymes.
• If you take any drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) that must not be taken with Mevacor, like certain drugs that are used for hepatitis C, HIV, or infections. There are many drugs that must not be taken with Mevacor.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant. Do not take Mevacor if you are pregnant.
• If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take Mevacor.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take Mevacor with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Mevacor?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take Mevacor. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your blood sugar closely.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• Follow the diet and workout plan that your doctor told you about.
• Do not take more than what your doctor told you to take. Taking more than you are told may raise your chance of very bad side effects.
• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
• Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol.
• If you are 65 or older, use Mevacor with care. You could have more side effects.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant.
• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking Mevacor.
• If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking Mevacor, call your doctor right away.

How is Mevacor best taken?

Use Mevacor as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take with the evening meal if taking once daily.
• Keep taking Mevacor as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

What are the side effects of Mevacor that I need to call my doctor about immediately?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Not able to pass urine or change in how much urine is passed.
• This medicine may cause muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. Sometimes, a very bad muscle problem may happen that may lead to kidney problems. Rarely, deaths have happened in people who get these problems when taking drugs like this one. Call your doctor right away if you have muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness that is not normal (with or without fever or feeling out of sorts). Call your doctor right away if you have muscle signs that last after your doctor has told you to stop taking Mevacor.
• Liver problems have happened with drugs like this one. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.

What are some other side effects of Mevacor?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Headache.
• Back pain.
• Flu-like signs.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If overdose is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Mevacor?

• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

SRC: NLM .