Medostatin
Drug name: Medostatin
Other names used:
- Altocor®
- Altoprev®
- Mevacor®
- Statosan®
Active Ingredients:
Lovastatin
Therapeutic actions: Medostatin tablets contain the active ingredient lovastatin, which is a type of medicine called a statin. It works by decreasing the production of Cholesterol by the liver.
Lovastatin decreases the production of LDL(bad) cholesterol by blocking the action of the enzyme in the liver (called HMG-CoA reductase) that is responsible for its production. This decreases the amount of cholesterol in the liver cells, which causes them to take up LDL(bad) cholesterol from the blood. The decreased cholesterol production and increased removal of LDL(bad) cholesterol from the blood ultimately results in lowered blood cholesterol levels.
Indications: Lovastatin is used :
- to treat high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
- to treat high triglycerides
- to prevent of heart disease.
Lovastatin is also used in children ages 10 to 17 for the treatment of high cholesterol.
Contraindications and cautions:
You should not use lovastatin if:
- you have an allergy to lovastatin or any of the inactive components used in making lovastatin tablets.
- You have active liver disorders or unexplained high liver enzymes.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
You should talk with your health care provider before taking lovastatin drug if you have:
- Heart disease
- Liver disorders or liver failure
- Kidney disorders or kidney failure
- Diabetes
- Family history of high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
- Heart attack or stroke
- Hypothyroidism
- Seizures
- Any allergies.
Talk with your doctor if you:
- Are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant
- Are breastfeeding
- Are going to have a procedure or surgery
- Drink alcohol
Warning!
- You should continue following a cholesterol-lowering diet during treatment with lovastatin Talk with your doctor.
- You must avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking lovastatin. Grapefruit juice can affect the metabolism of Medostatin and could increase the amount of the medicine in your blood, thus increasing the risk of side effects.
- You should tell your health care immediately if you experience any muscular symptoms such as , tenderness, cramps, pain or weakness while taking lovastatin.
- Lovastatin tablet may very rarely be associated with a type of lung disease. That's why you should tell your healthcare provider if you experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, a non-productive cough and deterioration in your general health (eg weight loss, fever, fatigue) while taking lovastatin.
Lovastatin Side effects: There are possible side-effects associated with this medicine that can affect individuals in different ways. If a side effect is stated here, that does not necessarily mean the fact that all people using lovastatin will experience it or any other.
constipation
If you experience side effects listed below , call your health care provider immediately:
- muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- lack of energy
- fever
- extreme tiredness
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- nausea
- rash
- loss of appetite
- flu-like symptoms
- hives
- itching
- hoarseness
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with <medicine>, please read the information provided with lovastatin or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Interactions: It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with Lovastatin. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medication while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.
Especially pay attention to the following drugs:
- amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);
- antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral);
- cimetidine (Tagamet); clarithromycin (Biaxin); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); danazol (Danocrine);
- erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin);
- anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin);
- HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir) and saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase);
- nefazodone (Serzone);
- other cholesterol-lowering medications such as fenofibrate (Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), and niacin (nicotinic acid, Niacor, Niaspan);
- spironolactone (Aldactone); telithromycin (Ketek); and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan)
Additional Information: DO NOT SHARE <medicines> with others. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT, as well as syringes and needles, if needed during treatment, out of the reach of children. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.
