Lovastatin is used together with a proper diet to lower cholesterol and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood. This medicine may also help prevent medical problems (eg, chest pain, heart attack, stroke) caused by fat clogging the blood vessels. It may also be used to prevent certain types of heart and blood vessel problems in patients with risk factors for heart problems.

Lovastatin belongs to the group of medicines called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins. It works to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood by blocking an enzyme that is needed by the body to make cholesterol.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more or less of it, and do not take more or less often than your doctor ordered.

In addition to this medicine, your doctor may change your diet to one that is low in fat, sugar, and cholesterol. Carefully follow your doctor's orders about any special diet.

Take the tablet with food. Take the extended-release tablet without food.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

If you are taking danazol (Danocrine®), diltiazem (Cardizem®), dronedarone (Multaq®), or verapamil (Calan®, Isoptin®, Verelan®) together with lovastatin, your lovastatin dose should not be higher than 20 milligrams (mg) per day, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Do not use more than 40 mg per day of lovastatin together with amiodarone (Cordarone®). When used together with higher doses of lovastatin, these medicines may increase your risk of muscle injury and could result in kidney problems.

Tell your doctor if you drink grapefruit juice. Drinking large amounts of grapefruit juice (more than 1 quart each day) while taking this medicine may increase your risk of muscle injury and could result in kidney problems.

Do not drink large amounts of alcohol with lovastatin. This could cause unwanted effects on the liver.

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

cough

dark urine

difficult, burning, or painful urination

difficulty with moving

fever

frequent urge to urinate

headache

joint pain or swelling

lower back or side pain

muscle ache, cramp, spasm, or stiffness

muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness

pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones

stuffy or runny nose

swollen joints

trouble with breathing

unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

Bloating

chills

constipation

diarrhea

difficulty swallowing

dizziness

fast heartbeat

general tiredness and weakness

hives, itching, skin rash

indigestion

light-colored stools

loss of appetite

nausea

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

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips

upper right abdominal 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

heartburn

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

depression

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

tremor

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.

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Do not use lovastatin if you are also taking any of the following medicines: boceprevir (Victrelis®), cobicistat-containing products (Stribild®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), gemfibrozil (Lopid®), nefazodone (Serzone®), telaprevir (Incivek®), certain antibiotics (eg, clarithromycin, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, telithromycin, voriconazole, Nizoral®), or medicines to treat HIV/AIDS (eg, atazanavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, Crixivan®, Kaletra®, Lexiva®, Norvir®, Prezista®, Reyataz®). Using these medicines together with lovastatin may increase your risk of muscle injury and could result in kidney problems.

Check with your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have unusual tiredness or a fever. These could be symptoms of serious muscle problems, such as myopathy or immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM).

Check with your doctor right away if you have dark urine, diarrhea, fever, muscle cramps or spasms, muscle pain or stiffness, or feel very tired or weak. These could be symptoms of a serious muscle problem called rhabdomyolysis, which can cause kidney problems.

Call your doctor right away if you have a headache, stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, loss of appetite, weight loss, general feeling of tiredness or weakness, light-colored stools, upper right stomach pain, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of liver damage.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine if you have major surgery, a major injury, or if you develop other serious health problems.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.