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. It can 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. 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.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone at 1-800-332-1088.
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: If you drink large quantities of alcohol you should be closely monitored by your doctor while taking this medication.
Kidney function: If you have severely reduced kidney function you should be closely monitored by your doctors when taking this medication.
Liver effects: People taking statins such as lovastatin should have their liver function monitored by their doctor regularly. If you drink large quantities of alcohol (more than 3 drinks per day) or have a history of liver disease, you should also be closely monitored by your doctors. In some cases, laboratory results have shown signs of harmful effects on the liver. When lovastain is stopped, the laboratory tests usually slowly return to normal.
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 breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed
- 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 taking other cholesterol-lowering medications such as fibrates (gemfibrozil, fenofibrate) or niacin
- are taking other medications, including prescription, non-prescription, and natural health products, as drug interactions are possible
- drink 3 or more alcoholic drinks daily
- do excessive physical exercise
- have a family history of muscular disorders
- have had any past problems with the muscles (pain, tenderness) after using a statin
- have kidney or liver problems
- have diabetes
- have thyroid problems
- have undergone surgery or other tissue injury
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: This medication should not be used if you are 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
- gemfibrozil
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- grapefruit juice (more than 1 quart daily)
- itraconazole
- ketoconazole
- lisinopril
- nefazodone
- niacin (more than 1 gram daily)
- protease inhibitors (i.e., indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
- telithromycin
- 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.