Mevacor is used, along with diet changes (restriction of cholesterol and fat intake), to lower cholesterol levels in people with primary hypercholesterolemia (too much cholesterol in the bloodstream).

Mevacor is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood. This is important in the prevention of heart disease and hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Mevacor blocks the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver. In turn, the liver must acquire its cholesterol from the blood stream. Mevacor does so mainly in the form of LDL. Mevacor makes this possible by increasing LDL receptors. Mevacor also may help draw cholesterol to the liver for excretion.

Mevacor lowers overall blood cholesterol as well as blood LDL cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is believed to be the \"bad\" cholesterol that is primarily responsible for the development of coronary artery disease. Lowering LDL cholesterol levels retards progression and may even reverse coronary artery disease.

Mevacor should be taken with meals.

Take each dose of Mevacor with a full glass of water.

Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with Mevacor, at six and twelve weeks after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose, and periodically (every 6 months) thereafter. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To see beneficial effects from Mevacor, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.

If you miss a Mevacor dose
Take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take 2 doses at the same time.

Adults
The recommended starting dose of Mevacor is 20 milligrams once a day, taken with the evening meal. The maximum recommended dose of Mevacor is 80 milligrams per day, taken as a single dose or divided into smaller doses, as determined by your doctor. Adjustments to any dose, as determined by your doctor, should be made at intervals of 4 weeks or more.

If you are taking Lopid, Atromid-S, Tricor or nicotinic acid in combination with Mevacor, your dose of Mevacor should not exceed 20 milligrams per day.

Cholesterol levels should be monitored periodically and consideration should be given to reducing the dosage of Mevacor if cholesterol levels fall below the targeted range.

In patients taking immunosuppressive drugs concomitantly with Mevacor, therapy should begin with 10 mg of Mevacor and should not exceed 20 mg/day.

If you have reduced kidney function, your doctor will be cautious about increasing your dosage of Mevacor.

Children
The safety and effectiveness of Mevacor has not been established in children.

Mevacor Overdosage
There have been no reported cases of overdose with Mevacor. However, if you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

Mevacor Storage instructions
Protect Mevacor from light. Store at room temperature. Keep container tightly closed.

Mevacor Preparations Tablets: 10mg, 20mg

Mevacor tends to enhance the blood-thinning effect of Coumadin. In rare instances, Mevacor can also cause muscle pain and potential kidney damage when combined with the following:

• Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
• Clofibrate (Atromid-S)
• Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• Erythromycin (E.E.S., PCE, others)
• Fenofibrate (Tricor)
• Fluconazole (DiFlucan)
• Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
• Itraconazole (Sporanox)
• Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• Nefazodone (Serzone)
• Nicotinic acid or niacin (Niaspan)
• Protease inhibitors (a type of drug for HIV) such as Agenerase, Crixivan, Fortovase, Invirase, Norvir, and Viracept
• Warfarin (Coumadin).

If you are taking Mevacor with any of these drugs, (or with large quantities of grapefruit juice), alert your doctor immediately at the first sign of muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by fever or general body discomfort. If you need to take erythromycin, Biaxin, Nizoral, or Sporanox, the doctor may temporarily take you off Mevacor.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Mevacor. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Special precautions if you are pregnant or breastdeeding
You should take Mevacor only if pregnancy is highly unlikely. There may be a potential hazard to the developing baby. Do not take Mevacor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

Mevacor may appear in breast milk and may have an effect on nursing infants. Do not take Mevacor without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Special warnings about Mevacor
Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of Mevacor and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flu like symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.

If you are being treated for any disease that contributes to increased blood cholesterol, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, nephrotic syndrome (kidney and blood vessel disorder), dysproteinemia (an excess of protein in the blood), or liver disease, your doctor will closely monitor your reaction to Mevacor.
Do not take Mevacor without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease. It is recommended that liver function tests be performed by your doctor before treatment with Mevacor begins, at 6 and 12 weeks after your treatment has started or your dosage has been raised, and periodically (about 6-month intervals) thereafter.

Alcohol and Mevacor can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.

If you are planning to have elective surgery, Mevacor should be discontinued a few days before the operation. Mevacor should be used with caution if you consume substantial quantities of alcohol or have a past history of liver disease.

Why Mevacor should not be prescribed?
If you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to Mevacor or similar anticholesterol drugs, you should not take Mevacor. Make sure that your doctor is aware of any drug reactions that you have experienced.

Unless you are directed to do so by your doctor, do not take Mevacor if you are being treated for liver disease.

Do not take Mevacor if you are pregnant or nursing.

More common side effects of Mevacor may include:
Abdominal pain/cramps, altered sense of taste, blurred vision, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, gas, headache, heartburn, indigestion, itching, muscle cramps, muscle pain, muscle weakness with rash, nausea, rash, weakness.

Less common side effects of Mevacor may include:
gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea, cough, headache, or insomnia.