What side effects are possible with this medication?
A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal
doses. A side effect may be mild or severe, temporary or permanent, but does
not occur in everyone. Not everyone will experience side effects, and which
side effects a person experiences cannot be anticipated.
A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. A side effect may be mild or severe, temporary or permanent, but does not occur in everyone. The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away over time. If you develop any of these side effects (or any other side effects not listed here) or they change in intensity, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on managing them and on the risks and benefits of the medication.
- abdominal gas
- abdominal pain
- blurred vision
- constipation
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- headache
- heartburn
- muscle pain
- nausea
- skin rash
- tiredness and weakness
Click here to learn about serious side effects that can potentially occur with any medication. These examples are provided for information purposes only and are not meant to be exhaustive. Always consult your doctor for sound medical advice specific to your particular medication and treatment.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
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 this medication.
Alcohol: People who drink large quantities of alcohol should be closely monitored by their doctor while they are taking this medication.
Kidney function: People with severely reduced kidney function should be closely monitored by their doctors if they take this medication.
Liver effects: Laboratory test results show signs of harmful effects to the liver occur in about 1.6% of adults who take lovastatin for one year or more. When the medication is stopped, the laboratory tests usually slowly return to normal. If you take lovastatin, your doctor will likely monitor your liver function. People with a history of liver disease should be closely monitored by their doctors while they are taking this medication.
Muscle effects: In rare cases, serious muscle damage has been associated with the use of statin medications, especially at higher doses. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- are of Asian background (Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Asian-Indian origin)
- are over the age of 70
- are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
- are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed
- are taking other medications, including prescription, non-prescription, and natural health products, as drug interactions are possible
- are taking other cholesterol-lowering medications such as fibrates (gemfibrozil, fenofibrate) or niacin
- have a family history of muscular disorders
- have thyroid problems
- have kidney or liver problems
- have diabetes
- have undergone surgery or other tissue injury
- have had any past problems with the muscles (pain, tenderness), after using a statin
- drink 3 or more alcoholic drinks daily
- do excessive physical exercise
Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps, or any brown or discolored urine to your doctor immediately, particularly if you are also experiencing malaise (a general feeling of being unwell) or fever.
Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking lovastatin, stop taking this medication and contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children younger than 10 years of age.
Seniors: If you are older than 70 years of age, your doctor will likely monitor you closely for muscle-related side effects.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
There may be an interaction between lovastatin and any of the following:
- amiodarone
- bile acid sequestrant
- cholestyramine
- clarithromycin
- colestipol
- cyclosporine
- danazol
- diltiazem
- erythromycin
- fenofibrate
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- gemfibrozil
- grapefruit juice
- itraconazole
- ketoconazole
- lisinopril
- niacin
- protease inhibitors (i.e., indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
- verapamil
- warfarin
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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 this medication. 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.