Lovastatin Side Effects

Brand Names: Altocor, Altoprev, Mevacor

Please note - some side effects for Lovastatin may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Lovastatin - for the Consumer

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 when using Lovastatin:

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.

Lovastatin Extended-Release Tablets

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 when using Lovastatin Extended-Release Tablets:

Constipation; nausea; stomach pain or upset; trouble sleeping; weakness.

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.

Lovastatin Side Effects - for the Professional

Lovastatin

Lovastatin is generally well tolerated; adverse reactions usually have been mild and transient.

Phase III Clinical Studies:  In Phase III controlled clinical studies involving 613 patients treated with Lovastatin, the adverse experience profile was similar to that shown below for the 8,245-patient EXCEL study.

Persistent increases of serum transaminases have been noted. About 11% of patients had elevations of CK levels of at least twice the normal value on one or more occasions. The corresponding values for the control agent cholestyramine was 9 percent. This was attributable to the noncardiac fraction of CK. Large increases in CK have sometimes been reported.

Expanded Clinical Evaluation Of Lovastatin (EXCEL) Study:  Lovastatin was compared to placebo in 8,245 patients with hypercholesterolemia (total-C 240-300 mg/dL [6.2-7.8 mmol/L]) in the randomized, double-blind, parallel, 48-week EXCEL study. Clinical adverse experiences reported as possibly, probably or definitely drug-related in ≥ 1% in any treatment group are shown in the table below. For no event was the incidence on drug and placebo statistically different.

Other clinical adverse experiences reported as possibly, probably or definitely drug-related in 0.5 to 1.0 percent of patients in any drug-treated group are listed below. In all these cases the incidence on drug and placebo was not statistically different. Body as a Whole: chest pain; Gastrointestinal: acid regurgitation, dry mouth, vomiting; Musculoskeletal: leg pain, shoulder pain, arthralgia; Nervous System/Psychiatric: insomnia, paresthesia; Skin: alopecia, pruritus; Special Senses: eye irritation.

In the EXCEL study, 4.6% of the patients treated up to 48 weeks were discontinued due to clinical or laboratory adverse experiences which were rated by the investigator as possibly, probably or definitely related to therapy with Lovastatin.  The value for the placebo group was 2.5%.

Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study (AFCAPS/TexCAPS): In AFCAPS/TexCAPS  involving 6,605 participants treated with 20-40 mg/day of Lovastatin  (n=3,304) or placebo (n=3,301), the safety and tolerability profile of the group treated with Lovastatin was comparable to that of the group treated with placebo during a median of 5.1 years of follow-up. The adverse experiences reported in AFCAPS/TexCAPS were similar to those reported in EXCEL Study).

Concomitant Therapy: In controlled clinical studies in which Lovastatin was administered concomitantly with cholestyramine, no adverse reactions peculiar to this concomitant treatment were observed. The adverse reactions that occurred were limited to those reported previously with Lovastatin or cholestyramine. Other lipid-lowering agents were not administered concomitantly with Lovastatin during controlled clinical studies. Preliminary data suggests that the addition of gemfibrozil to therapy with Lovastatin is not associated with greater reduction in LDL-C than that achieved with Lovastatin alone. In uncontrolled clinical studies, most of the patients who have developed myopathy were receiving concomitant therapy with cyclosporine, gemfibrozil or niacin (nicotinic acid). The combined use of Lovastatin at doses exceeding 20 mg/day with cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, other fibrates or lipid-lowering doses (≥ 1g/day) of niacin should be avoided.

The following effects have been reported with drugs in this class. Not all the effects listed below have necessarily been associated with Lovastatin therapy.

Skeletal: muscle cramps, myalgia, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, arthralgias.

Neurological: dysfunction of certain cranial nerves (including alteration of taste, impairment of extraocular movement, facial paresis), tremor, dizziness, vertigo, memory loss, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral nerve palsy, psychic disturbances, anxiety, insomnia, depression.

Hypersensitivity Reactions: An apparent hypersensitivity syndrome has been reported rarely which has included one or more of the following features: anaphylaxis, angioedema, lupus erythematous-like syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, dermatomyositis, vasculitis, purpura, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, positive ANA, ESR increase, eosinophilia, arthritis, arthralgia, urticaria, asthenia, photosensitivity, fever, chills, flushing, malaise, dyspnea, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Gastrointestinal: pancreatitis, hepatitis, including chronic active hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, fatty change in liver; and rarely, cirrhosis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, and hepatoma; anorexia, vomiting.

Skin: alopecia, pruritus. A variety of skin changes (e.g., nodules, discoloration, dryness of skin/mucous membranes, changes to hair/nails) have been reported.

Reproductive: gynecomastia, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction.

Eye: progression of cataracts (lens opacities), ophthalmoplegia.

Laboratory Abnormalities: elevated transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, g-glutamyl transpeptidase, and bilirubin; thyroid function abnormalities.

Adolescent Patients (Ages 10-17 Years):

In a 48-week controlled study in adolescent boys with heFH (n=132) and a 24-week controlled study in girls who were at least 1 year post-menarche with heFH (n=54), the safety and tolerability profile of the groups treated with Lovastatin (10 to 40 mg daily) was generally similar to that of the groups treated with placebo.

Side Effects by Body System

Hepatic

Persistent elevations in liver function tests to three times normal values have been reported in up to 2% of patients on lovastatin in clinical trials. Overall, 1.5% of patients were withdrawn from study due to elevations in serum transaminases. While most patients remained asymptomatic with these elevations, cases of cholestatic jaundice and hepatitis have been reported.

Liver function tests should be closely monitored. Lovastatin should be discontinued in patients with persistent, significant elevations (three times the upper limit of normal) in liver function parameters.

Hepatic side effects of lovastatin include elevations in liver function tests (to 2%). Other hepatic side effects reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are hepatitis, including chronic active hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, fatty change in the liver, cirrhosis, and fulminant hepatic necrosis.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects are among the most common complaints in patients on lovastatin. These effects tend to be mild and transient in nature and will often dissipate with continued therapy.

Gastrointestinal side effects associated with the administration of lovastatin have included flatulence (to 6%), abdominal pain (to 6%), diarrhea (to 6%), constipation (to 5%), nausea (to 5%), dyspepsia, and heartburn. Other gastrointestinal side effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have included pancreatitis, anorexia, and vomiting.

Musculoskeletal

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been associated with rare cases of severe myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, accompanied by increases in creatine kinase, myoglobinuria, proteinuria, and renal failure. These conditions appear to be dose related, usually occurring with doses greater than 30 mg per day. The incidence and severity of myopathy may be increased by concomitant administration of lovastatin with drugs that can cause myopathy when given alone, such as gemfibrozil and other fibrates, niacin, and potent inhibitors of CYP450 3A4 (i.e., cyclosporine, antifungal azoles, macrolide antibiotics, large amounts of grapefruit juice). Other variables associated with an increased risk of statin-induced myopathy include, advanced age, small body stature, female gender, renal and/or hepatic dysfunction, perioperative periods, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and alcoholism.

Milder forms of myotoxicity (i.e., myalgia) are commonly reported and occur in approximately 5% to 7% of patients taking a statin drug.

Patients should be instructed to report promptly symptoms of muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness. If such symptoms develop, creatine kinase should be measured, and if markedly elevated, lovastatin should be discontinued. The value of routine monitoring of creatine kinase is not known. In some studies up to 11% of patients experienced elevations in creatine kinase while on lovastatin. In most cases these elevations were mild, transient, and not associated with clinical symptoms.

Itraconazole used concomitantly with lovastatin has led to one reported case of severe rhabdomyolysis in a 63-year-old woman. Caution should be exercised when HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and azole antifungals are prescribed concurrently.

Musculoskeletal side effects of lovastatin have included elevations in creatine kinase, myopathy, and rhabdomyolysis. Other musculoskeletal side effects reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have included arthralgia, myalgia, tendon rupture, and dermatomyositis.

In addition, some data have suggested that exposure to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors is associated with a decreased risk of bone fractures in persons older than 50 years of age.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects including hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and leukopenia have occurred with some HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. These effects may be manifestations of a hypersensitivity reaction.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects of lovastatin have included headache (9%) and dizziness (2%). In addition, one study demonstrated an increase in sleep latency and total wake time in patients treated with lovastatin as compared to patients treated with pravastatin. Other nervous system side effects reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have included cranial nerve dysfunction, tremor, vertigo, memory loss, drowsiness, weight loss, decline in cognitive function, paresthesias, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral nerve palsy.

Renal

Renal side effects of lovastatin have included acute renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects associated with the administration of lovastatin have included rash and pruritus. Other dermatologic side effects reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have included erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, photosensitivity, purpura, and alopecia. These effects may be manifestations of a hypersensitivity reaction.

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects of lovastatin have included hypospermia. Other endocrine side effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have included gynecomastia and thyroid dysfunction. In addition, acid maltase deficiency (the genetic disorder also referred to as Pompe's Disease) has been revealed following HMG-CoA therapy in at least one presymptomatic patient.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions are reported rarely with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and have included anaphylaxis, angioedema, lupus erythematous-like syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatic, dermatomyositis, vasculitis, purpura, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, positive ANA, ESR increase, eosinophilia, arthritis, arthralgia, urticaria, asthenia, photosensitivity, fever (including severe hyperthermia), chills, flushing, malaise, dyspnea, and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Immunologic

Immunologic side effects of lovastatin have included a lupus-like syndrome with positive ANA and elevated ESR. Other immunologic side effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have included polymyalgia rheumatica and vasculitis.

Ocular

Ocular side effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have included progression of cataracts and ophthalmoplegia. There is no evidence to support adverse effects of lovastatin on the human lens.

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects of lovastatin have included a case report of hyperkalemia in a patient with mild renal insufficiency on concomitant lisinopril. A positive rechallenge implicated lovastatin as a confounding factor in this case.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have included decreased libido, anxiety, insomnia, depression, suicidal thoughts, delusions, paranoia, agitation, and nightmares.

Genitourinary

Halkin, et al report a case in which use of both lovastatin and pravastatin on different occasions in the same patient led to reversible impotence. The impotence resolved within 2 weeks after discontinuation of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.

Genitourinary side effects associated with the administration of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have included erectile dysfunction, impotence, and testicular pain.

Oncologic

Oncologic side effects have been associated with many lipid-lowering drugs, including tumor growth in rodents. Lovastatin has been specifically associated with hepatocellular carcinomas and adenomas and pulmonary adenomas. Long-term clinical trials are needed to define the risk of cancer in humans.

Other

Other side effects including fatigue have been reported in postmarketing experience.

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