Lovastatin 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.

Lovastatin 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 Lovastatin if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Lovastatin
• you have liver problems or unexplained abnormal liver function tests
• you are pregnant or 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 doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Lovastatin :

Some medical conditions may interact with Lovastatin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are planning to become pregnant
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies 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

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Lovastatin. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• 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 Lovastatin '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 Lovastatin

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Lovastatin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Lovastatin :

Use Lovastatin as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Lovastatin by mouth with food.
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice at the same time you take Lovastatin. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the risk of side effects from Lovastatin. Talk to your doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet while taking Lovastatin.
• Continue to take Lovastatin even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Lovastatin , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Lovastatin.

Important safety information:

• Lovastatin may cause dizziness or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Lovastatin with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Drinking alcohol daily or in large amounts may increase the risk of liver problems with Lovastatin. Check with your doctor before drinking alcohol while you are taking Lovastatin.
• Follow the diet and exercise program given to you by your health care provider.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Lovastatin before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Women who may become pregnant should use effective birth control while taking Lovastatin. Check with your doctor if you have questions about using birth control.
• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.
• 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 Lovastatin. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Lovastatin with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially serious muscle problems.
• Lovastatin 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 use Lovastatin if you are pregnant. It may cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. It is not known if Lovastatin is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while you are taking Lovastatin.

Possible side effects of Lovastatin :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Constipation.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

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.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.