lovastatin
Brand names: Mevacor, Altoprev
Lovastatin is a medicine that helps lower cholesterol levels in your blood. It belongs to a class of drugs called statins.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.04/unit
Generic Available
Yes (3 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Lovastatin is used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart problems.
Common side effects
Abdominal pain, Constipation, Diarrhea
Key warnings
Lovastatin can cause muscle problems, including muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), which can lead to kidney damage.
How It Works
Lovastatin works by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. This helps to lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Lowering cholesterol helps to prevent heart disease and stroke.
How to Take It
Take lovastatin with meals. The usual starting dose for adults is 20 mg once a day, with your evening meal. Your doctor may adjust your dose from 10 mg to 80 mg per day, taken as a single dose or two divided doses. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and do not exceed the prescribed dose.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
You should not take lovastatin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who could become pregnant, use effective birth control while taking lovastatin.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store lovastatin tablets at room temperature, away from light and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 12,106 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 25,229 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2001–2025.
Total Reports
25,229
Death-Related Reports
2,045
Hospitalization Reports
6,900
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,661 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 1,518 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 1,396 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 1,251 |
| 5 | DYSPNOEA | 1,209 |
| 6 | DIZZINESS | 1,147 |
| 7 | PAIN | 1,062 |
| 8 | HEADACHE | 1,002 |
| 9 | ASTHENIA | 971 |
| 10 | FALL | 893 |
| 11 | ARTHRALGIA | 812 |
| 12 | OFF LABEL USE | 806 |
| 13 | DEATH | 783 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 750 |
| 15 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 747 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Lovastatin can cause muscle problems, including muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), which can lead to kidney damage. The risk is higher if you take certain other medicines with lovastatin. You should not take lovastatin if you have liver problems or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Known Drug Interactions
Lipid Modifying Agents: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: lovastatin, simvastatin ↑ lovastatin ↑ simvastatin Co-administration is contraindicated due to potential for serious reactions such as myopathy including rhabdomyolysis.
Mechanism: Darunavir raises the level of lovastatin in the blood, which can lead to severe muscle breakdown.
What to do: Do not take these two drugs together because of the risk of serious side effects like muscle damage.
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors lovastatin, simvastatin ↑ lovastatin ↑ simvastatin Co-administration contraindicated due to potential for myopathy including rhabdomyolysis [see Contraindications (4) ] . If treatment with PAXLOVID is considered medically necessary, discontinue use of lovastatin and simvastatin at least 12 hours prior to initiation of PAXLOVID, during the 5 days of PAXLOVID treatment, and for 5 days after completing PAXLOVID.
Mechanism: This medicine blocks the way your body processes lovastatin, which can cause the drug to reach dangerous levels and hurt your muscles.
What to do: You should stop taking lovastatin 12 hours before starting Paxlovid and wait 5 days after finishing Paxlovid before taking it again.
Caution should also be exercised if an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor or other agent used to lower cholesterol levels is administered to patients also receiving other drugs (e.g., spironolactone, cimetidine) that may decrease the levels or activity of endogenous steroid hormones.
Mechanism: Both of these medications can lower the levels of natural hormones in your body. Using them together might interfere with how your hormones work.
What to do: Use this combination with caution as directed by your healthcare provider. Your doctor may monitor you for changes in your hormone levels.
Strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, clarithromycin, telithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors, boceprevir, telaprevir, nefazodone, erythromycin, and cobicistat-containing products), and grapefruit juice increase the risk of myopathy by reducing the elimination of lovastatin (see CONTRAINDICATIONS , WARNINGS , Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis , and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY , Pharmacokinetics ).
Mechanism: Ketoconazole stops the body from breaking down lovastatin. This causes the medicine to build up in your blood, which can lead to serious muscle damage.
What to do: Avoid taking these two medicines together. Your doctor may need to stop your lovastatin treatment while you are taking this antifungal medication.
Danazol, Diltiazem, Dronedarone or Verapamil The risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis is increased by concomitant administration of danazol, diltiazem, dronedarone or verapamil particularly with higher doses of lovastatin (see WARNINGS , Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis ; CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY , Pharmacokinetics ).
Mechanism: Verapamil slows down the process of removing lovastatin from your body. This can cause lovastatin to reach high levels that increase the risk of muscle injury.
What to do: Your doctor may need to limit your dose of lovastatin while you are on this medication. Tell your doctor immediately if you have unexplained muscle pain or weakness.
Common Questions
What should I do if I experience muscle pain while taking lovastatin?
Can I drink grapefruit juice while taking lovastatin?
How often will my cholesterol levels be checked?
Are there any other medications I should avoid while taking lovastatin?
How long will I need to take lovastatin?
What kind of diet should I follow while taking lovastatin?
Can lovastatin cause liver problems?
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to lovastatin?
Can I stop taking lovastatin if my cholesterol levels are normal?
Does lovastatin have any effect on blood sugar?
What are the common side effects of lovastatin?
Does lovastatin interact with other medications?
What drug class is lovastatin?
Is lovastatin safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin)
Other drugs grouped near lovastatin — same-class peers and common alternatives.
alirocumab
Praluent
Praluent is a medicine that can lower cholesterol.
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atorvastatin
Lipitor
Atorvastatin is a drug that lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart problems and stroke.
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bempedoic acid
Nexletol
Nexlizet is a combination medicine that helps lower cholesterol.
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bempedoic acid/ezetimibe
Nexlizet
Nexlizet is a combination medicine that helps lower cholesterol.
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cholestyramine
Questran
Cholestyramine is a medicine that helps lower high cholesterol levels in your blood.
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for lovastatin
The FDA label for lovastatin (sold under brand names such as Mevacor, Altoprev) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) class. Lovastatin is used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart problems. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Abdominal pain, Constipation, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 12,106 voluntary reports. The database also lists 30 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.04.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: April 1, 2020
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages