Mevacor

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


Overview:

Mevacor
(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

Lower cholesterol naturally without statins  -  ‎Aug 27, 2009‎
Some well-known statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and rosuvastatin (Crestor). Examiner.com

Lose weight by balancing hormones  -  ‎Aug 24, 2009‎
I take lovastatin (Mevacor) for high cholesterol. I take Alli and phentermine to lose weight. What supplements can I take along with these? Ocala

Livalo, New Cholesterol-Fighting Drug, Gets FDA Approval  -  ‎Aug 4, 2009‎
Lescol (fluvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), and Zocor (simvastatin), the FDA said. Attorney at Law

علاقة عقاقير الستاتين بمخاطر الاصابة بالسرطان  -  ‎Aug 13, 2009‎
Ù‹ هي عقاقير الاستاتين التي منها Caduet - Advicor and Vytorin وأيضاً هناك بعض العقاقير المتاحة مثل (Lipitor ØŒ LescolØŒ Mevacor ØŒPravachol and crestor). مصراوي

Dr. Bill Elliott: Some foods interact with drugs, too  -  ‎Jul 11, 2009‎
...are relatively common medications, including the cholesterol-lowering medications atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor) and lovastatin (Mevacor). Marin Independent-Journal

Muscle Damage From Statins May Evade Blood Test  -  ‎Jul 6, 2009‎
Studies suggest that between 10% and 15% of patients who take cholesterol-lowering statin drugs like Crestor, Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Zocor, and Pravachol WebMD

An Old Asian Standby, Red Yeast Rice, May Lower Cholesterol in ...  -  ‎Jul 9, 2009‎
...concerns that one of the natural statins contained in red rice yeast, lovastatin, is the basis of an already existing prescription drug called Mevacor. Diabetes Health (press release)

Red Yeast Rice May Lower Cholesterol  -  ‎Jun 18, 2009‎
The researchers write that the dose of red yeast rice used in their study was equal to a daily dose of 6 milligrams a day of Mevacor. WebMD

Cholesterol OK? Statins Still Help Heart  -  ‎Jul 1, 2009‎
The findings add to the growing evidence favoring an expanded use of statins -- such as Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor, Pravachol, and Crestor -- for the primary WebMD

The Ongoing Debate of Red Yeast Rice Lowering Cholesterol  -  ‎Jun 21, 2009‎
...the FDA because of the naturally occurring lovastatin which is identical to the active ingredient in a prescription statin, Mevacor, marketed by Merck. HealthNews

Cholesterol lowering drugs may induce myopathy  -  ‎Jun 17, 2009‎
Statin drugs such as Lipitor, Zocor, Prevachol and Mevacor, when used appropriately, may reduce the relative risk of cardiovascular disease by about 25% and Examiner.com

Statins Might Stave Off Alzheimer's  -  ‎Jun 30, 2009‎
The Netherlands, conducted animal experiments in which they administered lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor) to overstimulated nerve cells. Atlanta Journal Constitution

Red yeast rice busts cholesterol just like statins!  -  ‎Jun 19, 2009‎
Well, currently since the pharmaceutical manufacturer of Mevacor (Merck & Co., Inc) contends that it owns the rights to the ingredient lovastatin, Sawf News

Medicinal chemist honored nationally  -  ‎Jun 28, 2009‎
...high blood pressure; the antibiotic Primaxin; cholesterol-lowering Mevacor; Proscar for enlarged prostates; and Ivomec, used to combat river blindness. Philadelphia Inquirer

Red yeast rice, fish oil fight high cholesterol  -  ‎Jul 7, 2009‎
It contains a substance called monacolin-K that is nearly identical to the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin (Mevacor), as well as several other Chiropractic Economics

Examining The Next Megamerger  -  ‎Jul 7, 2009‎
It's been more than five years since Merck applied to have Lovastatin (Mevacor) turned into an OTC. A third drug class like this might provide profit Life Science Leader Magazine

Ralph Hirschmann Dies At 87  -  ‎Jun 23, 2009‎
They include Vasotec, Lisinopril, Primaxin, Mevacor, Proscar, and Ivomec. In 1987, after his mandatory retirement from Merck at age 65, Hirschmann joined Chemical & Engineering News

Study Validates Safety and Efficacy of Red Yeast Rice in ...  -  ‎Jul 3, 2009‎
FDA as it contains lovastatin, a regulated drug (available as a prescription drug called Mevacor®), and is sold over-the-counter as a food supplement. MediNEWS.Direct!

Las estatinas podrían ser útiles en el Alzheimer  -  ‎Jul 2, 2009‎
...de Groninga (Países Bajos), realizaron experimentos con animales en los que se administró lovastatina (Altoprev, Mevacor) a neuronas sobreestimuladas. Intramed.net (Suscripción)

紅麴能é™?低膽固醇  -  ‎Jun 22, 2009‎
...這篇研究的樣本數很少,膽固醇減少的程度比ä¸?上æœ?用高劑é‡?statins治療的患者,åƒ?是Crestorã€?Lipitorã€?Mevacorã€?以å?ŠZocor。 ã€?紅麴濃度的差別】 研究人員警告,因為 臺灣新浪網

¿Un sustituto para los que no pueden tomar estatinas?  -  ‎Jun 19, 2009‎
UU. porque contiene una estatina natural, la lovastatina, vendida como el medicamento recetado Mevacor. La FDA tomó medidas contra varios productos de arroz Info7

スタãƒ?ンを使用ã?§ã??ã?ªã?„患者ã?«ç´…麹を代替æœ?用  -  ‎Jun 29, 2009‎
...紅麹ã?«ã?¯ã€?処方薬ã?®lovastatin ロãƒ?スタãƒ?ン(商å“?å??Mevacorã€?日本ã?§ã?¯æœªæ‰¿èª?)ã?¨ã?—ã?¦è²©å£²ã?•れã?¦ã?„る天然スタãƒ?ンã?®ãƒ­ãƒ?スタãƒ?ンã?Œå?«ã?¾ã‚Œã‚‹ã€‚著者ã?®1人ã?§ã?‚る心臓病 健康美容EXPO

Enzyme may reduce benefit of cholesterol drugs  -  ‎Apr 1, 2009‎
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research suggests that the cholesterol-lowering ability of "statin" drugs, like Lipitor and Mevacor, is blunted when the Reuters

Statins Cut Stroke Risk by One-Fifth in Meta-Analysis  -  ‎Apr 14, 2009‎
Other drugs tested in the trials included rosuvastatin (Crestor), pravastatin (Pravachol), atorvastatin (Lipitor), and lovastatin (Mevacor). MedPage Today

Grapefruit and Prescription Drugs: Mix Carefully  -  ‎Mar 30, 2009‎
In addition, widely prescribed drugs for lowering cholesterol have been added to the list -- well-known drugs such as Lipitor, Mevacor, and Zocor (but not Online - International News Network

Una enzima reduce beneficio de los fármacos para el colesterol  -  ‎Apr 2, 2009‎
NUEVA YORK (Reuters Health) - La capacidad de reducir el colesterol de las estatinas, como Lipitor y Mevacor, disminuye cuando la sangre contiene altos elEconomista.es

혈액내 효소 '콜레스테롤 낮추는 약물' 약발 떨어뜨린다  -  ‎Apr 1, 2009‎
...리피토나 메바코(Mevacor) 같� 콜레스테롤� 낮추는 스타틴 약물� 효과가 'phospholipid transferprotein'��는 혈액내 효소가 높� 시 떨어질 수 있다는 연구결과 Medical Today

Alternative options that can help improve memory  -  18 Mar 2009
...statin drugs that are prescribed to control cholesterol levels—such as Liptor, Mevacor, Zocor, Lescol, Crestor and Advicor—can cause severe memory loss. BCLocalNews

Satin drugs: A health hazard?  -  ‎Mar 16, 2009‎
According to news reports, statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, Crestor, Lescol and Mevacor) are the most effective cholesterol-lowering drugs available Merinews

The People's Pharmacy  -  ‎Mar 4, 2009‎
A: Red-yeast rice contains some lovastatin, the ingredient in the prescription drug Mevacor. There are also other statinlike compounds in this dietary Seattle Times

Loss of Power Could Stem From Medication  -  ‎Mar 11, 2009‎
He writes: “Statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, Crestor, Lescol and Mevacor) are the most effective cholesterol-lowering drugs available. Korea Times

Cholesterol Drugs May Help Asthma Patients  -  ‎Mar 16, 2009‎
The other patients were on Pravachol, Mevacor, Lescol, or a combination of drugs. Over a one-year period, 20.5% of patients taking statins were hospitalized WebMD

The People's Pharmacy  -  ‎Mar 4, 2009‎
A: Grapefruit slows elimination of some statin drugs (Mevacor, Lipitor and Zocor). That means that if you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice, Seattle Times

Do cholesterol drugs really work?  -  ‎Feb 25, 2009‎
...(Statins are: Zocor, Pravachol, Crestor, Lescol, Mevacor and Lipitor.) Muscle pain occurs in 1 in 1000 users. Muscle damage occurs in much fewer. Payson Roundup

Anti-Cholesterol Drug May Ease Back Pain  -  ‎Feb 24, 2009‎
23 (HealthDay News) — The cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin (Mevacor) might improve outcomes for people who have surgery for degenerative disc disease, Health.com

Cholesterol Drugs Linked to Increased Fatigue  -  ‎Mar 12, 2009‎
Other popular statins include drugs such as Crestor, Lipitor and Mevacor. What's the potential link? According to Golomb, it's possible that the drugs may U.S. News & World Report

Statins Cut Deaths From Prostate Cancer  -  ‎Feb 26, 2009‎
Zocor, and Crestor were linked to a lower risk of dying from prostate cancer even more than weaker statins like Mevacor, Pravachol, and Lescol. WebMD

New study supports statin's anti-dementia effects  -  ‎Mar 2, 2009‎
Examples of fat soluble statins are atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), or fluvastatin (Lescol). Canada.com

Just what is a total cholesterol count?  -  ‎Mar 5, 2009‎
My only recommendation would be for periodic lab testing, since red yeast rice can affect the liver because it is a natural statin similar to Mevacor. Telegraph-Journal

Статины могут вызывать повышенную утомлÑ?емоÑ?ть  -  ‎Mar 15, 2009‎
Также они Ñ?читают, что и другие популÑ?рные Ñ?татины - Crestor, Lipitor и Mevacor – имеют Ñ?хожий Ñ?ффект. БиатриÑ?Ñ? Голомб, Ñ?оавтор иÑ?Ñ?ледованиÑ?, предполагает, МЕДСТРИМ.РУ - консультации врачей, новости медицины

Статины помогут облегчить боль в поÑ?Ñ?нице  -  ‎Feb 25, 2009‎
Препарат длÑ? Ñ?нижениÑ? уровнÑ? холеÑ?терина lovastatin (Mevacor) улучшает Ñ?оÑ?тоÑ?ние людей, которые перенеÑ?ли операции в Ñ?вÑ?зи Ñ? дегенеративным заболеванием МЕДСТРИМ.РУ - консультации врачей, новости медицины

스타틴 '메바코' 디스í?¬ 환ìž? 개선 효과 ë³´ì—¬  -  ‎Feb 23, 2009‎
...콜레스테롤 치료제ì?¸ '메바코(Mevacor, lovastatin)'ê°€ 퇴행성 디스í?¬ 질환으로 수술받ì?€ 환ìž?ì?˜ ì¦?ìƒ? 개선ì—? ë?„움ì?„ 준다는 연구결과가 ë?¼ìŠ¤ë² ê°€ìŠ¤ì—?서 열리는 메디게이트뉴스

Aching Back? Cholesterol Medication Might Help  -  ‎Feb 23, 2009‎
Back pain, a hallmark of degenerative disc disease, sends millions of people to their doctor. In fact, more than 80 percent of patients who undergo spine PhysOrg.com

CoQ10, ubiquinol same nutrient, but differ in quality, brands  -  Jan 17, 2009
Leg cramps and muscle pain can be the result of the drug mugging effect of statin cholesterol medicines such as Advicor, Pravachol, Zocor, Lipitor, Mevacor Tulsa World,

Are doctors minimizing side effects of statins?  -  Jan 28, 2009
Include lovastatin (brand name Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin San Diego Union Tribune,

Firm joins drug giant in venture  -  Jan 13, 2009
Many pharmaceuticals are polyketides, such as the anti-cholesterol drugs Mevacor, Pravachol and Zocor; the anticancer drugs Torisel and Ixempra; Pharmacy Europe,

Research and Markets: Case Studies and Future Considerations ...  -  Jan 12, 2009
In 2001, a generic version of the statin Mevacor entered the US market. How did Mevacor's manufacturer, Merck, respond" How did makers of other branded PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung),

Red Yeast Rice Slows Prostate Cancer Growth  -  Jan 29, 2009
...the cholesterol-lowering drug, lovastatin (Mevacor). In fact, studies have shown that Chinese red yeast rice lowers cholesterol as well as lovastatin. Cancer Monthly,

New study supports statin's anti-dementia effects  -  Jan 9, 2009
Examples of fat soluble statins are atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), or fluvastatin (Lescol). MSNBC

What you can do after a heart attack  -  Jan 21, 2009
...[2] Some common statins are atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol) and simvastatin (Zocor). guardian.co.uk,

Nuevo estudio respalda efectividad de estatinas contra demencia  -  Jan 14, 2009
Algunas de las estatinas solubles en grasa son la atorvastatina (Lipitor), la simvastatina (Zocor), la lovastatina (Mevacor) o la fluvastatina (Lescol). Buena Salud

Estatinas podem ter efeito protetor contra Alzheimer, indica estudo  -  Jan 9, 2009
Entre as lipossolúveis estão a atorvastatina (Lipitor/Citalor), a sinvastatina (Zocor), a lovastatina (Mevacor) ea fluvastatina (Lescol). O Globo,

El colesterol es tu mejor amigo  -  Jan 28, 2009
...a surgir todos los efectos secundarios del veneno que es Crestor (y todas las otras statinas como Lipitor, Vytorin, Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor y Caduet). Claridad,

Over-the-counter statins aren't available in U.S.  -  Dec 22, 2008
In the most recent denial, issued in December 2007, an expert panel advised the FDA that Mevacor could be a safe and effective option for lowering Sun-Sentinel.com,

Nobel Laureate Calls for Public Funding of Drug Trials  -  Dec 16, 2008
In the case of statins, for example, the first drug in the class was Merck’s Mevacor, which was later supplanted by the likes of Zocor and Pfizer’s Lipitor Wall Street Journal Blogs,

Read instructions that come with prescription meds  -  Dec 15, 2008
The trade names of these drugs are Lipitor, Zocor and Mevacor. Several drugs prescribed for insomnia, depression and anxiety have interactions with Jackson Clarion Ledger,

The Power of Statins  -  Dec 6, 2008
This concept led to the development of cholesterol-lowering statins, such as Mevacor (lovastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Lipitor, Newsweek

Statins Do Not Interfere With Rituximab Treatment For Lymphomas ...  -  Dec 8, 2008
Examples of commonly used statins in the US include Lipitor, Zocor, Parvachol, Lescol, Mevacor and Crestor. Rituximab (Rituxan), a monoclonal antibody, Science Daily (press release)

Low Thyroid Hormone Increases Risk of Death from Heart Attack by ...  -  Dec 8, 2008
Natural thyroid hormone is dirt cheap, makes you feel great, and is about 50 times more effective than Lipitor or Mevacor (toxic drugs which cost billions Natural News.com,

Brand Names/Synonyms:
Mevacor 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:
Mevacor 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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