Lovastatin

Pronunciation: LOE-va-sta-tin.

Generic name
lovastatin
Brand names
Mevacor (United States)
Drug class
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)
Form
Tablet
Route
Oral
Legal status
Prescription-only medicine in the United States. Availability in other countries was not confirmed in this pass.

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: India

Australia: · Full directory

What lovastatin is and how it works

Lovastatin is a statin that lowers cholesterol by reducing the liver's production of cholesterol. (1)

It is used for people with elevated cholesterol who are at risk of cardiovascular disease. It carries a real, dose-related risk of muscle problems (myopathy) and requires liver monitoring, particularly interacting with certain other medicines and grapefruit.

Mechanism of action: how lovastatin works

Lovastatin is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in hepatic cholesterol synthesis, reducing LDL cholesterol production. It is metabolized via CYP3A4, which underlies its significant interaction potential. (1)

What lovastatin is used for

Hypercholesterolemia (elevated cholesterol)

Used to reduce elevated cholesterol levels in patients at risk for cardiovascular disease, alongside diet and lifestyle measures. (1)

Before taking lovastatin

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not take lovastatin if you have active liver disease or unexplained, persistent elevations in liver enzymes. (all products) (1)
  • Do not take lovastatin if you are pregnant, since it is contraindicated due to potential effects on the developing baby. (pregnancy) (1)

Tell your clinician about

  • Any liver disease or history of abnormal liver tests.
  • Any history of muscle problems, including with another statin.
  • Whether you regularly drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit.
  • Every other medicine you take, especially antibiotics like erythromycin or clarithromycin, antifungal medicines like itraconazole or ketoconazole, or certain HIV protease inhibitors.
  • Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
(1)

How to take lovastatin

  • Take exactly as prescribed, usually once daily with a meal.
  • Do not change your dose or stop taking lovastatin without talking to your prescriber first.
  • Avoid grapefruit juice and grapefruit products, since they can raise lovastatin levels and increase the risk of muscle problems.
(1)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1)

Missed dose

Follow the product instructions for missed doses, or ask your prescriber or pharmacist. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Overdose

Contact your prescriber, pharmacist, or a poison-control/emergency service if an overdose is suspected. (1)

Side effects

Muscle aches, headache, and digestive upset are the most common effects. Some muscle and liver-related effects need prompt medical evaluation.

Headache or stomach upset

What to notice: Commonly reported effects.

What to do: Tell your prescriber if severe or persistent. (1)

Mild muscle aches

What to notice: Can occur without being a sign of serious muscle injury.

What to do: Tell your prescriber, especially if pain is more than mild or is accompanied by fever or feeling generally unwell. (1)

Possible liver problem

What to notice: Unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine.

What to do: Contact your prescriber promptly for liver-function testing. (1)

Serious warnings

Myopathy or rhabdomyolysis (serious muscle breakdown) — emergency

Symptoms: Muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with fever or feeling generally unwell, or dark urine.

Action: Seek urgent medical evaluation immediately; a clinician will decide whether lovastatin needs to be stopped. This can rarely lead to kidney damage, and rare fatalities have been reported. Risk is higher at higher doses and with certain interacting medicines or grapefruit. (1)

Persistent muscle weakness after stopping (rare immune-mediated myopathy) — urgent

Symptoms: Muscle weakness and elevated muscle enzyme levels that continue even after the statin is stopped.

Action: Contact your prescriber for assessment; this rare autoimmune muscle condition needs specialist evaluation distinct from ordinary statin-related muscle aches. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or testEffectAction
Grapefruit juice and grapefruit productsCan significantly increase lovastatin blood levels and the risk of muscle problems.Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking lovastatin. (1)
Macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin) and azole antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole)These strongly inhibit the enzyme that clears lovastatin, substantially increasing levels and myopathy risk.Tell your prescriber before starting any of these; an alternative may be chosen, or lovastatin may need to be paused under medical guidance. (1)
Certain HIV protease inhibitorsCan increase lovastatin levels and myopathy risk.Tell your prescriber about all HIV medicines you take. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Liver disease

Not suitable for active liver disease or unexplained persistent liver enzyme elevation. Liver function is checked before starting and periodically afterward, particularly in the first year. (1)

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy due to potential effects on the developing baby. (1)

Breastfeeding

Whether lovastatin passes into breast milk in a way that affects an infant is not established; breastfeeding is not recommended while taking it. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Baseline liver function tests.
  • Review of muscle-related history and all current medicines, especially CYP3A4-interacting drugs and grapefruit intake.

During treatment

  • Periodic liver function testing, particularly in the first year.
  • Watch for muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with fever or general illness.
  • Reassess if a new interacting medicine is started.
(1)

Storage

Store as directed on the product label, out of reach of children.

Study the drug class: Statins

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Use the current local product information for exact dosing and interaction management.

United States

Indication: Hypercholesterolemia

Dose summary: Initial 20 mg once daily with a meal, titrated up to a maximum of 80 mg/day based on lipid response.

Renal context: Not detailed in the source reviewed; use current local product information for renal impairment. (1)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Contraindicated in active liver disease; obtain baseline and periodic liver function tests, especially in the first year of treatment.

Overdose note

No specific antidote is described in the source reviewed; manage supportively per local toxicology guidance. (1)

Frequently asked questions

What is lovastatin used for?

lovastatin is prescribed for approved indications. Always follow your healthcare provider's guidance.

What are the side effects of lovastatin?

Common side effects may include gastrointestinal symptoms and headache. Serious side effects require immediate medical attention.

Can I take lovastatin with other medications?

Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications you are taking, including over-the-counter products and supplements.

What is the mechanism of action of lovastatin?

Lovastatin is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in hepatic cholesterol synthesis, reducing LDL cholesterol production. It is metabolized via CYP3A4, which underlies its significant interaction potential. (1)

What is the generic name of Lovastatin?

The generic name is lovastatin. It is sold under brand names including Mevacor (United States). (1)

What class of drug is lovastatin?

Lovastatin is classed as: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). (1)

References

  1. MEVACOR (lovastatin) tablets — full prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration (accessdata.fda.gov) · United States · accessed 2026-07-26 · source 1
  2. LOVASTATIN TABLET [REMEDYREPACK INC.] — US prescribing information (DailyMed SPL)U.S. National Library of Medicine (DailyMed) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 2
  3. Lovastatin — patient drug information (MedlinePlus)U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 3
  4. Lovastatin — FDA approval record (Drugs@FDA ANDA075551)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 4
  5. lovastatin — RxNorm normalized drug concept (RXCUI 6472)U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 5

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient lovastatin names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

India

  • LovexLupin Ltd
  • StatinIndica Laboratories Pvt Ltd
  • AztatinSun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
  • ElstatinGlenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd
  • LovamegAlembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd
  • LovacardCipla Ltd
  • LocholMicro Labs Ltd
  • LotinIntas Pharmaceuticals Ltd
  • LovadacCadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd
  • LovatinIntas Pharmaceuticals Ltd
View brands in additional countries.

This page provides general medicine information, not a diagnosis, prescription, or substitute for a doctor, pharmacist, or the current local product information. Sourced from US information only.

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