Lovastatin

• Mild muscle aches or weakness, or feeling tired
• Stomach disturbances such as stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea
• Headache, joint pain or back pain

Inform your healthcare professional if these side effects do not go away and become bothersome to you.

Very rarely, Statin may cause muscle or liver problems. Stop this medication and see a doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Breakdown of muscles - Unexplained, severe muscle pain that does not go away, muscle weakness or cramps all over your body, or dark brown urine
• Liver injury - Dark brown urine, light coloured stools (pale grey/clay coloured), nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, yellowing of skin or eyes     

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

​Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are allergic to any other statins, or to any other medications
• You are pregnant, planning to have a baby or breastfeeding
• You have liver or kidney problems

Avoid taking grapefruit or grapefruit juice as they may interact with your medication and increase the risk of side effects.

Avoid taking a supplement called red yeast rice as this supplement may increase the risk of side effects.

Avoid or limit drinking alcohol to less than 3 drinks a day. Drinking too much alcohol may raise your chance of liver disease.

Some medications may interact with statins and affect their effectiveness or increase the risk of side effects. However, these medications may also be important for your treatment. Inform your healthcare professional of the other medications you are currently taking. Examples include:

• Warfarin, a blood thinning medication
• Medications for bacterial infections (e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Medications for fungal infections (e.g. itraconazole, ketoconazole)

Consult your healthcare professional if you are unsure whether your existing medications can be taken together with statin.