Altocor

This page contains recent news articles, when available, and an overview of Altocor but does not offer medical advice. You should contact your physician with regard to any health issues or concerns.

Overview:

Altocor (when available)

Pharmacology and use:
Lovastatin, an antilipemic agent produced by fermentation of Aspergillus terreus, is the first of a class of lipid-lowering agents known as the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Lovastatin is used to treat hypercholesterolemia, to slow coronary atherosclerosis, and to prevent myocardial infarction and stroke. Lovastatin, like simvastin and unlike pravastatin, is a prodrug, concentrating active drug in the liver during first-pass circulation. For management as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, apo B, and TG levels in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia; For primary prevention of coronary heart disease

Mechanism Of Action:
Lovastatin is a lactone that is readily hydrolyzed in vivo to the corresponding b-hydroxyacid, a potent inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate. The conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate is an early step in the biosynthetic pathway for cholesterol.

News Articles on Lovastatin

Cholesterol-lowering statins may help prevent Alzeimer's, too ...  -  Sep 4, 2007
Simvastatin (Zocor) and lovastatin (Mevacor or Altocor) were the most common prescriptions. Even though there was no difference in the incidence of apparent International Herald Tribune,

Apparently, Some Red Yeast Rice Still Contains Lovastatin  -  Aug 10, 2007
However, that was because one of the "natural" ingredients turned out to be lovastatin, a statin drug marketed as Mevacor and Altocor. About - News & Issues,

Quitting Statins Risky After Stroke  -  Aug 30, 2007
Other statin drugs -- Lescol, Mevacor, Altocor, Pravachol, and Crestor -- weren't included in the study. The researchers interviewed the patients by phone WebMD

Statins May Cut Alzheimer's Disease  -  Aug 27, 2007
Statins include the prescription drugs Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Altocor, Pravachol, Zocor, and Crestor. The study, published in tomorrow's edition of the WebMD

Australia Opens Doors to World's Largest Exotic ''Nature Bank ...  -  May 7, 2007
PharmaLive.com (press release),The cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin (Altocor(TM)) was derived from a fungus. The next generation drug atorvastatin (Lipitor(TM)) is the world's largest

Free Medicine Foundation Helps Patients Taking Costly Cholesterol ...  -  Dec 5, 2006
PR Web (press release),The following medicines may be available through a free or low-cost plan located through Free Medicine Foundation: Lipitor, Zocor, Vytorin, Lescol, Altocor,

Many drug names fail to pass FDA muster  Mar 19, 2006
Kos Pharmaceuticals Inc., formerly of Miami, sued the firm, claiming that Andrx's Altocor cholesterol drug had a name too similar to Kos' Advicor cholesterol ... - Sun-Sentinel.com

Health matters: 'Combination diet' can help cholesterol  Jan 18, 2006
We have several classes of medications for high cholesterol: statins (Altocor, Crestor, Lescol, Lipitor, Pravachol and Zocor), bile acid sequestrants, fibrates ... - Billings Gazette

Brand Names/Synonyms:
Altocor is also known by the following brand names and/or synonyms6alpha-Methylcompactin; Altocor; Altoprev; Artein; Belvas; Cholestra; Closterol; Colevix; Compactin; HSDB 6534; Hipolip; Hipovastin; Lestatin; Lipdip; Lipivas; Lipofren; Lovalip; Lovalord; Lovastatin; Lovastatin [Usan:Ban:Inn]; Lovastatina [Spanish]; Lovastatine [French]; Lovastatinum [Latin]; Lovasterol; Lovastin; Lozutin; MK 803; MK-803; ML-530B; MSD 803; Mevacor; Mevastatin; Mevinacor; Mevinolin; Mevlor; Monacolin K; Nergadan; Paschol; Pravastatin; Rodatin; Rovacor; Sivlor; Taucor; Tecnolip; Teroltrat

Drug Category:
Altocor is categorized under the following by the FDA: Antineoplastic Agents; Anticholesteremic Agents; HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; ATC:C10AA02

Dosage Forms:
Tablet

Absorption:
30%

Interactions:
DRUG INTERACTIONS CYP3A4 Interactions Lovastatin is metabolized by CYP3A4 but has no CYP3A4 inhibitory activity; therefore it is not expected to affect the plasma concentrations of other drugs metabolized by CYP3A4. Potent inhibitors of CYP3A4 (below) increase the risk of myopathy by reducing the elimination of lovastatin. Pharmacokinetics. Itraconazole Ketoconazole Erythromycin Clarithromycin Telithromycin HIV protease inhibitors Nefazodone Cyclosporine Large quantities of grapefruit juice (>1 quart daily) Interactions with lipid-lowering drugs that can cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy is also increased by the following lipid-lowering drugs that are not potent CYP3A4 inhibitors, but which can cause myopathy when given alone. See WARNINGS, Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis. Gemfibrozil Other fibrates Niacin (nicotinic acid) (=1 g/day) Other drug interactions Danazol: The risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis is increased by concomitant administration of danazol particularly with higher doses of lovastatin (see WARNINGS, Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis). Amiodarone or Verapamil: The risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis is increased when either amiodarone or verapamil is used concomitantly with a closely related member of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor class (see WARNINGS, Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis). Coumarin Anticoagulants: In a small clinical trial in which lovastatin was administered to warfarin treated patients, no effect on prothrombin time was detected. However, another HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor has been found to produce a less than two-second increase in prothrombin time in healthy volunteers receiving low doses of warfarin. Also, bleeding and/or increased prothrombin time have been reported in a few patients taking coumarin anticoagulants concomitantly with lovastatin. It is recommended that in patients taking anticoagulants, prothrombin time be determined before starting lovastatin and frequently enough during early therapy to insure that no significant alteration of prothrombin time occurs. Once a stable prothrombin time has been documented, prothrombin times can be monitored at the intervals usually recommended for patients on coumarin anticoagulants. If the dose of lovastatin is changed, the same procedure should be repeated. Lovastatin therapy has not been associated with bleeding or with changes in prothrombin time in patients not taking anticoagulants. Propranolol: In normal volunteers, there was no clinically significant pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interaction with concomitant administration of single doses of lovastatin and propranolol. Digoxin: In patients with hypercholesterolemia, concomitant administration of lovastatin and digoxin resulted in no effect on digoxin plasma concentrations. Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: In pharmacokinetic studies of MEVACOR in hypercholesterolemic noninsulin dependent diabetic patients, there was no drug interaction with glipizide or with chlorpropamide

Chemical IUPAC Name:
[8-[2-(4-hydroxy-6-oxo-oxan-2-yl)ethyl]-3,7-dimethyl-1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl] 2-methylbutanoate

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