ALTOPREV

Lovastatin 40mg, Oral tablet, extended release

Grapefruit juice

· Severity: Major

· Notes for Consumers: Side effects from lovastatin may get worse if you drink grapefruit juice. Do not take lovastatin with grapefruit juice. Discuss with your health care provider why lovastatin and grapefruit juice should not be taken together. Orange juice is safe to drink with lovastatin. Contact your prescriber immediately if you experience unexplained muscle aches, muscle pain or tenderness, general weakness or fatigue, side or back pain, or decreased urination while taking lovastatin.

· Notes for Professionals: Large quantities of grapefruit juice (>1 quart daily) should be avoided during lovastatin therapy due to the increased risk of myopathy. Grapefruit juice contains compounds that inhibit the CYP3A4 isozyme in the gut wall. Coadministration with grapefruit juice increases the plasma concentrations and AUC of lovastatin (and its beta-hydroxy acid metabolite) and may have a similar effect on the serum concentrations of simvastatin, atorvastatin, and cerivastatin, which are CYP3A4 substrates. Grapefruit juice should be avoided or minimized in patients taking these agents to avoid the potential for drug accumulation and toxicity (ie. myopathy and rhabdomyolysis).

Lovastatin 40mg, Oral tablet, extended release

Alcohol

· Severity: Moderate

· Notes for Consumers: In some individuals, Lovastatin and other "statin" type drugs can decrease the function of the liver. The use of alcohol or alchohol-containing beverages can increase the risk of side effects to the liver from Lovastatin. It is best to avoid or limit the use of alcohol-containing beverages during therapy with Lovastatin. Your prescriber may periodically order certain laboratory blood tests to check the function of the liver while you are receiving Lovastatin therapy.

· Notes for Professionals: Intake of ethanol should be avoided or minimized during lovastatin therapy to reduce the risk of hepatic injury. The manufacturer advises caution for use of lovastatin in patients who ingest substantial quantities of alcohol.

<b>DISCLAIMER:</b><em> This drug information content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their physician with any questions regarding a medical condition and to obtain medical advice and treatment. Drug information is sourced from GSDD (Gold Standard Drug Database ) provided by Elsevier.</em>