Mevacor MedFacts

Mevacor

Mevacor is used for:

Lowering high cholesterol in certain patients. It is used along with an appropriate diet. It is used in certain patients to reduce the risk of heart attack and chest pain caused by angina. It is also used to slow blood vessel blockage and to reduce the need for medical procedures to open blocked heart blood vessels. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Mevacor is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, also known as a "statin." It works by reducing the production of certain fatty substances in the body, including cholesterol.

Do NOT use Mevacor if:

• you are allergic to any of the ingredients contained in Mevacor
• you have liver problems or unexplained abnormal liver function tests
• you are pregnant or are breast-feeding
• you are taking a macrolide antibiotic (eg, clarithromycin, erythromycin), an HIV protease inhibitor (eg, ritonavir), itraconazole, ketoconazole, mibefradil, nefazodone, or telithromycin

Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if any of the above applies to you.

Consider before using Mevacor

Medical Conditions

There are medical conditions that can influence usage of Mevacor . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the medical conditions below applies to you:

• if you are either pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• if you are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any medicine (either prescription or nonprescription), herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you are allergic to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have low blood pressure, a serious infection, kidney problems, diabetes, or a history of seizures
• if you are very ill, have certain muscle problems (eg, pain, weakness), or have metabolism, hormonal, or electrolyte problems
• if you drink alcohol or have a history of liver problems or alcohol abuse
• if you have a certain type of high cholesterol (homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia)
• if you have had an organ transplant or have recently had major surgery or a serious injury

Drugs Interaction

There are medicines that may interact with Mevacor . Inform your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, in particular any from the list below:

• Amiodarone, certain azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), danazol, diltiazem, fibrates (eg, gemfibrozil, clofibrate), fluconazole, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), imatinib, immunosuppressants (eg, cyclosporine), macrolide antibiotics (eg, clarithromycin, erythromycin), mibefradil, nefazodone, niacin, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (eg, delavirdine), streptogramins (eg, dalfopristin), telithromycin, vasopressin receptor antagonists (eg, conivaptan), verapamil, or voriconazole because they may increase the risk of muscle or kidney problems
• Bosentan, carbamazepine, rifampin, or St. John's wort because they may decrease Mevacor 's effectiveness
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), cimetidine, digoxin, hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills), macrolide immunosuppressants (eg, tacrolimus), or spironolactone because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Mevacor

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Clarify with your health care provider whether Mevacor may interact with other medicines you take. Also, consult your health care provider in advance if you are going to start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Mevacor Usage Guidelines

You should use Mevacor as recommended by your doctor. Read the medicine's label for precise dosing instructions.

• Take Mevacor by mouth with food.
• Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may increase the amount of Mevacor in your blood, which may increase your risk for serious side effects. The risk may be greater with large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Avoid large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice (eg, more than one quart daily). Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet while you are taking Mevacor .
• Continue to take Mevacor even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Mevacor , take it as soon as you get it remembered. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, ignore the missed one and get back to your normal dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.

Clarify with your health care provider any issues you may have about usage of Mevacor .

Important safety information on mevacor

• Mevacor may cause dizziness or blurred vision. There effects may be worsened when this medicine is taken with aclohol or other medicines. Use Mevacor with caution. Refrain from driving or performing other possibly dangerous activities until you know how you react to it.
• The risk of having liver problems with Mevacor may be increased if you drink alcohol daily or in large amounts Clarify with your doctor on drinking alcohol when taking Mevacor .
• Follow the diet instructions and exercise program advised by your health care provider.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Mevacor before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• If you may become pregnant, use effective birth control while taking Mevacor . Consult your doctor if you have any questions on using birth control medicines.
• Do NOT take more than the dose recommended by your doctor. However, if you are going to take it, check with your doctor first.
• Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to your doctor right away, especially if you also have a fever or general body discomfort.
• Lab tests, including blood cholesterol levels, liver function tests, and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) blood levels, may be performed while you use Mevacor . These tests can be used to monitor your medical condition or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Mevacor with caution in OLDER PATIENTS, because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially serious muscle problems.
• This medicine should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 10 years old and in those who have not reached puberty; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not take Mevacor if you are pregnant. It may harm the fetus. Abstain from becoming pregnant while taking this medicine. If you find out you may be pregnant, tell your doctor as soon as possible. Although it is not known whether Mevacor passes info the breast milk, you should not breast-feed while you are taking it.

Side effects may be caused by Mevacor

Any medicine may cause side effects, but the majority of people have either slight side effects, or dont have it at all. Consult your doctor if any of the most COMMON side effects from the list below persist or start bothering you:

Constipation.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; dark urine; muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (with or without fever or fatigue); pale stools; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe stomach pain; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

It sholud be noted, that this is not a full list of possible side effects. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Mevacor storage instructions:

Store Mevacor at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Mevacor out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions on Mevacor , please consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
• Mevacor is supposed to be used only by the patient it is prescribed to. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or even become worse, inform your doctor.

This article is a summary only, and it does not provide all the information about Mevacor . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.