Having a high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level is one of the risk factors for coronary artery disease. The high level can increase inflammation in an injured area of an artery. As a result, cholesterol as well as fats and blood cells accumulate in that area and form a plaque. Plaques interfere with the passage of red blood cells and oxygen. Lovastatin lowers the cholesterol level in the bloodstream, but there are possible side effects.
What is Lovastatin?
Lovastatin is a medication prescribed to lower a high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. It is in the category of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. The cells in the liver use the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme to make cholesterol, explains Robert Baron, M.D., vice chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of California in "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment." Thus, lovastatin interferes with the enzyme needed for the production of cholesterol.
Side Effects Involving the Muscles
People taking lovastatin may develop aches and pains in their muscles. It may start in the thighs and arms, but will then spread throughout the body, describes Robert Mahley, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease in "Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics." Muscles can also feel tired and weak. For those who have these symptoms, all of the muscle aches and pains, tiredness and weakness will continue and only get worse as long as they take the lovastatin medication.
Side Effects Involving the Liver
In "Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics," Dr. Mahley writes that the initial clinical studies on lovastatin showed that approximately one percent of the people taking it had three times the normal amount of liver enzymes. Having a high level of these enzymes, or proteins, means they were experiencing liver damage. It is rare, however, for anyone to have actual liver failure as a result of taking the medication. From 1987 to 2000, per Dr. Mahley, 30 people with liver failure from taking lovastatin had their cases reported to the FDA.
Monitoring the Side Effects
Since taking lovastatin can cause a high level of liver enzymes, it is recommended that the level of these enzymes be checked before starting to take this medication and then again every three to six months, according to Dr. Mahley in "Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics." If the level of the liver enzymes remains normal, it should be checked again every six to 12 months. Since muscle abnormalities may not develop unless taking another medication that can also cause this problem, tests to check the muscle enzymes are usually not necessary.
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2011"; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Maxine Papadakis, M.D.; 2011
- "Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics"; Laurence Brunton, Ph.D.; 2006
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