Get Informed: Mevacor
Active Ingredient(s)
Lovastatin
What does it do?
This product is used to lower cholesterol levels, with the aim of preventing or delaying progression of cardiovascular disease. It works by blocking an early step in the body's production of cholesterol.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Jul-31 3:06 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Jul-30 9:17 PM
Other Names
- Lovastatin
- Mevacor
- Altoprev
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category
- X
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 31 Aug 1987
- Est US Patients*
- 1,424,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Mevacor or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Mevacor Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Mevacor interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Mevacor used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 10,500 patients that use Mevacor (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| High Cholesterol | 96% |
mild
severe
|
| Other | 17% |
mild
severe
|
How well does Mevacor work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 10,500 users taking Mevacor (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iGuard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 76%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Mevacor outweigh the bad things.
- 11%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Mevacor.
Common Side Effects of Mevacor
iGuard regularly polls our more than 10,500 users taking Mevacor (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
13% of patients experience side-effects on Mevacor
4% of patients experience significant side-effects on Mevacor
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Muscle Pain/Cramps
-
Fatigue
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Constipation, Erectile Problems, Urinary Frequency, Weakness
Global Patient Feedback for Mevacor (Lovastatin) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Within the first two weeks of taking Lovastatin 20mg a day. I was so weak I couldn't barely hold my head up I was so weak. And the fatigue worsened the more I tried to follow the doctors instructions. I also experience erectile problems and constipation. This could be due to the mixture of medication that I am having to take. I don't know. I started a lot of my medications on the same day, such as, Lisinopril, Clonidine, Lexapro, Neurontin, Xanax, Tramadol, and Trazadone HCL. I have also experienced some abdominal pain with difficulties in urinating. Could the be a worsening in the Hepatits C or could it be the combination of medications, or a combination of both?
David, 31 year old male, TN.
31 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-07-21 05:14:41
Question/Comment:
i have been on lovastaten 20 mgs for over two years and my liver functions have jumped 200% in the last three months . they thought i was drinking or using lots of cough medicine. i have had terrible neck pain,shoulders,legs etc i just found out that it was a problem.i have been off 2 weeks and the liver enzymenes have come down by 1/2 ,i need to go down more.i am hoping this happens before i have too much liver damage.tired ,weak and stomach churning.iguard should be used by everyone they find the problems before the doctors.keep up the good job iguard. 67 years old female usa
67 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-24 21:21:31
Question/Comment:
I am 64 year old female. I was given Mevacor (Lovasatin) 10mg per day. I was told it was okay to continue taking niacin (1000mg per day). After a month I had such weakness in my right elbow I could not lift a glass of water. My right knee and calf muscles ached constantly. I could not get out of a chair without help and my mobility in general was compromised. I thought perhaps it was due to my exercise program until it got too severe to bare any longer. I figured it out in my sleep one night, threw away the Mevacor, and have taken a full year to totally recover. The local physician assistant was in disbelieve it could have been the medication.
64 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-18 10:09:51
Question/Comment:
I take metoprolol, lovastatin, nifedipine, lisinopril, Tramadol. My only concern is that when i wake up in the morning i am very dizzy till i sit up in bed for a few minutes before getting up, I have Fascioscapularhumeral Muscular Dystrophy and i believe my muscle weakness and my lack of energy may also be from my condition but i am not sure. What is your opinion on this. I am taking Tramadol for the pain in my back and legs daily. Thank You.
73 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-01 13:23:58
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Dizziness is a very common side effect of tramadol. In addition, the medications that you take for blood pressure, metoprolol, nifedipine, and lisinopril, can cause dizziness by themselves, so taking all three can increase the likelihood of dizziness Also, make sure you are monitoring your blood pressure regularly. It is possible that your blood pressure is too low in the morning, which could also cause dizziness. Your condition could definitely be contributing as well. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your dizziness symptoms and your medication list.
Posted: 2010-03-03 12:47:48
Answer/Reply:
I was prescribed lisinopril against hypertension, and succcessive blood tests indicated increasing potassium levels. As a war vet, the V.A. Med Center hospitalized me for @ 48 hours to chemically lower potassium level.
81 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-07-26 12:37:35
Question/Comment:
I am 59 and have been taking 40 mg of lovastatin over 3 yearsand I am expieriencing: muccle an joint pain,tenderness, wheezing, excessive dry skin(scalp,face,fingers), painful sores on face that wont heal. Headaches,pressure pain around eyes,nose,forhead. Bloody noses.nausea neck pain. wake up at nite and my skin is on fire. No energy, tired alot.cramps in hands, feet an legs. I am also taking Propranolol 80mg. alot of gas in my stomach. Are these symtoms from this medication?
59 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-08 05:19:34
iGuard Answer/Reply:
All that you are describing are most likely from the two medications. Lovastatin can cause muscle pain, joint pain, and gas. Propranolol can cause nausea, dry skin and tiredness. The bloody nose can be from dryness in the nasal passages. Your muscle problems can be an early sign of more serious problems, so please report this side effect to your doctor as soon as possible. Also let your doctor know about your other symptoms so they can be evaluated and your doctor can determine the cause.
Posted: 2010-01-10 19:57:28
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments About
Mevacor