What is the most important information I should know 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 flulike 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.
• Do not take Mevacor without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
• Before taking Mevacor, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, underactive thyroid, kidney disease, a muscle disorder, or a blood disorder:
• Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking Mevacor.
• Do not take Mevacor if you are pregnant, could become pregnant during treatment, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• Many other drugs can interact with Mevacor. Tell your doctor about all other medications you use.

What is Mevacor?

• Mevacor is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.
• Mevacor reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries, conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.
• Mevacor may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Mevacor?

• Do not take Mevacor without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
• Before taking Mevacor, tell your doctor if you:
  • have diabetes that is not well-controlled;
  • have an underactive thyroid;
  • have kidney disease;
  • drink alcoholic beverages;
  • have a chronic muscular disease; or
  • have a blood disorder.
• You may not be able to take Mevacor, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Mevacor is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that using the medication while you are pregnant can cause birth defects in the baby. Do not use this medication if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.
• It is not known whether Mevacor passes into breast milk. Do not take Mevacor without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• Mevacor is not for use in children younger than 10 years of age.

How should I take Mevacor?

• Mevacor should be used exactly as your doctor has prescribed it for you. Do not use more of the medication than recommended. Do not take Mevacor for longer than your doctor has prescribed.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• Do not crush or chew the extended-release Mevacor tablet (Altocor). Swallow the tablet whole. It is specially formulated to release the medication slowly in the body.
• For the greatest effect, Mevacor is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. If you take Mevacor several times daily, take it with meals. Follow your doctor's directions.
• To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
• Mevacor is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and sometimes weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet.
• Do not stop taking Mevacor without first talking to your doctor. Mevacor may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.
• Store Mevacor at room temperature, protected from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
• An overdose of Mevacor is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

What should I avoid while taking Mevacor?

• Avoid drinking alcohol. Both alcohol and Mevacor can be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation.
• Avoid eating fatty, high-cholesterol foods that can raise your cholesterol levels.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Mevacor, leading to potentially dangerous effects. Do not drink more than 1 quart of grapefruit juice while using Mevacor. If you cannot avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice altogether, talk with your doctor about a safe amount to consume.

What are the possible side effects of Mevacor?

• This medication may cause muscle or liver damage. Some of the early signs of muscle problems include unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or flu symptoms. Symptoms of liver problems include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), sudden stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, unexplained tiredness, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. Contact your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms of muscle or liver problems.
• Stop using Mevacor and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Mevacor and talk to your doctor if you have:
  • mild stomach pain, gas, bloating, stomach upset, heartburn;
  • nausea;
  • constipation; or
  • diarrhea.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Mevacor?

• Before taking Mevacor, talk to your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
  • cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf);
  • danazol (Danocrine);
  • gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);
  • amiodarone (Cordarone) or verapamil (Verelan, Calan, Isoptin);
  • niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
  • erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, others), clarithromycin (Biaxin), or telithromycin (Ketek);
  • cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
  • an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
  • nefazodone (Serzone);
  • a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
  • HIV or AIDS medication such as amprenavir (Agenerase), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase).
• If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take Mevacor, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring.
• There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Mevacor. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.