Side Effects of Mevacor

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Mevacor® (lovastatin). However, not everyone who takes the drug will develop problems. In fact, most people tolerate it well. If side effects do occur, they are usually minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or a healthcare professional. In research studies, up to 4.6 percent of people stopped taking Mevacor because of side effects.

If unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness develops while you are taking Mevacor, especially if you also have a fever or feel ill, it is important to contact your healthcare provider right away.
Mevacor has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with thousands of people having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects are documented and then compared to side effects that occur in a similar group of people taking a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredients). This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group taking the placebo.

Based on these studies, the most common Mevacor side effects include:

* Gas -- in up to 4.5 percent of people
* Constipation -- up to 3.5 percent
* Headache -- up to 3.2 percent
* Muscle pain, known medically as myalgia -- up to 3 percent (see Mevacor and Muscle Pain)
* Diarrhea -- up to 2.6 percent
* Abdominal pain -- up to 2.5 percent.

The following side effects also occurred in more than 1 percent of people and more often in the group taking Mevacor. These common side effects included but were not limited to:

* General feeling of weakness, known medically as asthenia
* Muscle cramps
* Dizziness
* Unexplained rash
* Blurred vision.

Mevacor Medicine lowers cholesterol.

Mevacor is a brand name of a drug called Lovastatin. There are many other brand names under which the same drug is known, some examples of these are; Lipivas, Lovalip Mevinacor, Nergadan, Rovacor and Taucor.

It is a white, crystalline powder that is insoluble in water and sparingly so in ethanol, methanol, acetonitrile. Mevacor is manufactured by MERCK + Co, INC. Merck is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company. It develops and manufactures a broad range of human and animal drugs.

Mevacor is a new type of tablets that lowers cholesterol. Mevacor prevents the formation of low density lipoprotein. High levels of LDL-cholesterol cause hardening of the arteries. This is the number one killer in the Western world. Mevacor is known not only to slow down or stop but also to reverse the effects of Atherosclerosis.

Mevacor belongs to the family of medications known as cholesterol-lowering drugs. It is used in addition to diet and exercise to lower high cholesterol levels. It works by blocking an enzyme that is needed to make cholesterol in the body. Less cholesterol is made and levels of cholesterol in the blood decrease. Reduction of cholesterol levels in the blood has been shown to reduce the risks associated with heart disease, such as heart attack.

Your doctor may have advised this medication for conditions other than the ones listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have high cholesterol too. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

Before starting Mevacor, you should follow a cholesterol-lowering diet. If appropriate, a program of weight control and physical exercise should also be followed.

The recommended dose ranges from 20 mg to 80 mg daily taken in a single dose (evening meal) or in two divided doses (morning and evening meals).

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones given here, do not change the way that you are taking the meds without consulting your doctor.

It is important that this medication be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.