Detailed Drug Information:

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Lovastatin is a cholesterol-loweringmedicine. It inhibits the production of cholesterol by the liver. Itlowers overall blood cholesterol as well as blood LDL cholesterol levels.LDL cholesterol is believed to be the "bad" cholesterol that isprimarily responsible for the development of coronary artery disease.Lowering LDL cholesterol levels retards progression and may even reversecoronary artery disease.

PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 10, 20, and 40 mg. Extended release tablets: 10, 20, 40, and 60 mg.

STORAGE: Tablets should be stored at room temperature in atightly closed container.

PRESCRIBED FOR: High LDL cholesterol is usually first treatedwith exercise, weight loss in obese individuals, and a diet low incholesterol and saturated fats. When these measures fail,cholesterol-lowering medications such as lovastatin can be added. TheNational Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has published treatmentguidelines for use of these medications. These treatment guidelines takeinto account the level of LDL cholesterol as well as the presence of otherrisk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, cigarette smoking, low HDLcholesterol level, and family history of early coronary heart disease. Theeffectiveness of the medication in lowering cholesterol is dose-related.Blood cholesterol determinations are performed in regular intervals duringtreatment so that dosage adjustments can be made. A reduction in LDLcholesterol level can be seen two weeks after starting therapy.

DOSING: May be taken on an empty or full stomach. The medicationseems to be most effective when given with the evening meal.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Lovastatin is generally well-tolerated bymost patients. The medication should be used with caution in patients withalcohol or other liver diseases. Persistent abnormal liver tests duringtreatment are rare, but may lead to the discontinuation of the medication.Rare cases of muscle inflammation (myositis) and breakdown have beenreported with lovastatin. Muscle breakdown causes release of muscleprotein (myoglobin) into the blood and kidney tubules, resulting in kidneyfailure. Severe muscle breakdown and kidney failure have been reportedwhen lovastatin is used together with gemfibrozil (Lopid). Therefore theirconcomitant use is discouraged. The risk of muscle breakdown is alsoincreased when lovastatin is given together with other medications, suchas cyclosporine (Sandimmune), erythromycin and nicotinic acid. Therefore,lovastatin should be used with caution and in lower doses whenmedications, such as cyclosporine are also needed. Lovastatin should notbe used by children. It is not habit forming.

PREGNANCY: Lovastatin may cause fetal harm, and should not begiven to pregnant women.

NURSING MOTHERS: Lovastatin should not be used by nursingmothers because of potential adverse side effects to the nursing infant.

SIDE EFFECTS: Side effects are rare. Minor side effects includeconstipation, diarrhea, gas, heartburn, headache, insomnia. Major sideeffects include abdominal pain or cramps, blurred vision, dizziness, itching, muscle pain or cramps, rash, yellowing of the skin or eyes.