The drug "Lovastatin": instructions for use, analogs, description, composition and reviews

The problem with elevated cholesterol in the blood is bothering many people. This is due to the fact that this condition can lead to malfunctions in the heart and the vascular system as a whole. To eliminate hyperlipoproteinemia, it is necessary not only to eat properly, but also to take certain medications.

The drug "Lovastatin" is considered the most effective means for lowering cholesterol in the blood. Instructions for use, price, reviews, counterparts and contraindications for this medication will be provided below. Also, you will learn about what experts say about it and what kind of feedback consumers leave.

Form, composition, packaging and description of the medicinal product

The drug "Lovastatin", the instruction for its use is packed in a cardboard pack, is sold in the form of white and round tablets. The active ingredient of this medication is lovastatin. As for the auxiliary components, they include lactose monohydrate, starch, cellulose, ascorbic acid, butyl hydroxy anisole, citric acid and magnesium stearate.

The medicine is produced in cell blisters and packs of cardboard, respectively.

Mechanism of action of the drug

What is the principle of the action of the drug "Lovastatin"? Instructions for use, annotation report that LP-receptors of the liver regulate the content of lipoproteins in the blood. From it they are derived through interaction with these receptors. As a result, cholesterol is synthesized in liver cells.

The principle of action of the drug in question is due to the suppression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase. This enzyme, with the participation of which the synthesis of cholesterol.

Reducing the formation of cholesterol entails a compensatory increase in the number of LP-receptors on hepatocytes. As a result of this action, the process of removing low density lipoprotein from the blood is accelerated, and the total cholesterol, low-density and intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol is also reduced.

Features of the drug

What other properties do Lovastatin tablets have? Instructions for use (price, reviews are presented at the end of the article) indicate that this agent is able to reduce the content of apolipoprotein B and triglycerides, and also slightly increase the level of high-density lipoproteins.

The therapeutic effect after taking the medication is manifested after two weeks, and the maximum - about a month and a half later. In this case, it persists for six weeks after the withdrawal of the drug.

The effectiveness of the drug for prolonged use does not decrease. It should also be noted that it is obtained from the biocultures of Aspergillus terreus and Monascus ruber.

Kinetic properties

How long is the drug "Lovastatin" absorbed? Instructions for use (the price of the drug is not very high) claims that the absorption of this drug from the digestive tract is slow. Moreover, it reduces the intake of tablets on an empty stomach.

The biological availability of this agent is very low (about 30% of the dose taken). Approximately four hours later, the highest concentration of the drug in the blood is reached. Another day later it decreases and is about 10% of the maximum.

The drug in question is 95% bound to plasma proteins. The clearance of the drug with a single admission is noted for 3 days.

What is the drug "Lovastatin"? Instruction for use reports that this is a prodrug. After the first passage through the liver, it takes on an active form.

The drug is metabolized by isozymes. Its half-life is 180 minutes. The active element of the drug, as well as its metabolites are excreted by the kidneys and through the intestine.

Indications for taking tablets

If there are any conditions, the patient is prescribed Lovastatin tablets? The instructions for use (the description, the composition of the preparation were presented at the very beginning of the article) informs that this remedy is very effective in the primary hypercholesterolemia (hypolipoproteinemia IIb and IIa types) with a high content of LDL (if dietotherapy in people with an increased risk of developing coronary atherosclerosis was ineffective) , As well as combined hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia.

It should also be noted that the drug under consideration is often prescribed for atherosclerosis.

Contraindications to the use of a prodrug

When is a patient not recommended to use Lovastatin tablets? Instructions for use (treatment with this drug should be prescribed only by a doctor) informs that this remedy is contraindicated in active liver diseases, pregnancy or its probability, increased activity of transaminases of unknown origin, as well as during breast-feeding, in severe condition of the patient (general) and increased Sensitivity to lovastatin.

Also, the medication in question is not prescribed at a minor age, with myopathy and cholestasis.

It is forbidden to combine with the reception of alcoholic beverages. With special care, it is prescribed to patients after coronary artery bypass grafting.

The drug "Lovastatin": instructions for use

The price, analogues of this tool will be examined below.

According to the attached instructions, tablets "Lovastatin" should be taken orally during dinner once a day.

With such a pathological condition as hyperlipidemia, the drug is prescribed in an amount of 10-80 mg once (the dose depends on the severity of the disease).

Treatment with the drug in question begins with small doses. Then it is gradually increased. The greatest daily dosage of the drug, equal to 80 mg, can be taken once or twice a day (in the morning and before bedtime). Selection of a therapeutic dose is carried out with an interval of one month.

As with coronary atherosclerosis, the drug "Lovastatin" is prescribed? Instruction for use informs that with such a disease the drug is prescribed in a dose of 20-40 mg. If the indicated amount of the drug was ineffective, then it is increased to 60-80 mg.

When the drug is combined with fibrates or nicotinic acid, its dosage should not be more than 20 mg per day.

Adverse events

Does the drug "Lovastatin" cause side effects? Instruction for use indicates the following undesirable phenomena:

• Cataract, headaches;
• Atrophy of the optic nerve, dizziness;
• Insomnia, sleep disorders, anxiety, general weakness, paresthesia;
• Muscle cramps, myalgia, myositis
• In people taking nicotinic acid, "Cyclosporine" or "Gemfibrozil", the risk of rhabdomyolysis increases;
• Thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia;
• Heartburn, biliary cholestasis, nausea, hepatitis, flatulence, taste perversion, constipation, cholestatic jaundice, diarrhea;
• Increased activity of creatine phosphokinase and liver transaminase;
• Increased bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase ;
• Quincke's edema, rash, itching, arthralgia, urticaria;
• Alopecia and decreased potency.

An overdose of a drug

If the patient does not receive high doses of medication, no specific symptoms are observed in the patient.

When observing pathological conditions, the affected person is washed with a stomach and prescribed to take sorbents. The patient is also monitored for vital functions, liver function and creatine phosphokinase activity.

Drug Interactions

Simultaneous use of a large amount of grapefruit juice, as well as "Gemfibrozil" and "Fenofibrate" contributes to a great risk of myopathy.

Taking a drug with nicotinic acid, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin, Cyclosporin, antifungal medicines (Itraconazole, Ketoconazole), Nefazodone and Ritonavir leads to an increase in the concentration of the drug in the blood, as well as the destruction of the muscle Tissue and risk of myopathy.

The joint appointment of "Lovastatin" with "Warfarin" increases the risk of bleeding.

The drug "Kolestyramin" reduces the bioavailability of the drug in question. Therefore, the time interval between their reception should be at least 2-4 hours.

Special Recommendations

With extreme caution, the drug "Lovastatin" is prescribed to people with liver diseases in history. The same applies to chronic alcoholism.

It should also be noted that this drug is canceled in the case of a persistent increase in liver transaminases or CK.

The cost of the drug and its analogs

Currently, it is not possible to buy the medicine in question in pharmacies in Moscow and other cities of Russia. If necessary, it can be ordered through the World Wide Web. Prices in online pharmacies vary considerably. This drug can be purchased within 300-600 rubles.

If necessary, the drug in question can be replaced with drugs such as Apexstatin, Fluvastatin, Cardiostatin, Iinvastine, Vero-Lovastatin, Pravastatin, Choletar, Lovasterol, Mevacor , "Mivinacor", "Lovacor".

Reviews about the drug

Now you know what pills like "Lovastatin" are. The instruction, composition, use, analogues of this medication have been described in this article.

According to experts, lipid-lowering drugs are used in complex treatment, as well as for the prevention of atherosclerosis and its complications.

The principle of action of this medication is to reduce the content of atherogenic lipoproteins in the blood

According to the doctors, at present there is a rather large experience of clinical use of "Lovastatin". It is one of the safest medicines. This drug has a fairly good tolerability with prolonged therapy.

In patients' reviews, very rarely are complaints of side effects. Sometimes this medicine can cause flatulence, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, insomnia and muscle pain. Typically, such reactions disappear two weeks after the initiation of therapy or as a result of dose reduction.