Altoprev

Generic name: Lovastatin
Drug class: Statins

Usage of Altoprev

Altoprev is used together with diet to lower blood levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL), to increase levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL), and to lower triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood).

Altoprev is used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart complications in adults with diabetes, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors.

Altoprev may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Altoprev side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Altoprev can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, or dark colored urine.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

muscle weakness in your hips, shoulders, neck, and back;

trouble lifting your arms, trouble climbing or standing;

kidney problems--little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath; or

liver problems--loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of Altoprev may include:

infections;

headache; or

accidental injury.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Altoprev

You should not use Altoprev if you are allergic to it, or if:

you are pregnant or breastfeeding; or

you have active liver disease.

Many drugs can interact and cause dangerous effects. Some drugs should not be used together with Altoprev. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

nefazodone;

an antibiotic--clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin;

antifungal medicine--itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole; or

antiviral medicine to treat HIV or hepatitis C--boceprevir, cobicistat, dasabuvir, elvitegravir, indinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, nelfinavir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir saquinavir, telaprevir, tipranavir.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

liver disease;

muscle pain or weakness;

kidney disease;

a thyroid disorder; or

if you drink large amounts of alcohol.

Altoprev can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure. This happens more often in older adults or people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

Do not use if you are pregnant. This medicine can harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor at once if you become pregnant.

Do not breastfeed while using this medicine.

Altoprev is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Relate drugs

How to use Altoprev

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

It may take up to 4 weeks before your cholesterol levels improve, and you may need frequent blood tests. Even if you have no symptoms, tests can help your doctor determine if Altoprev is effective.

You may need to stop using Altoprev for a short time if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Do not stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Altoprev is only part of a complete treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Warnings

You should not take Altoprev if you have active liver disease, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

Stop taking Altoprev and tell your doctor at once if you become pregnant.

What other drugs will affect Altoprev

Some drugs can increase your risk of serious muscle problems if you take them together with Altoprev. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:

cyclosporine;

danazol;

gemfibrozil, fenofibric acid, fenofibrate; or

medicines that contain niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others).

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect Altoprev. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.