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Lovastatin

Lovastin · ATC code C10AA02

Key facts
Active substance
Lovastatin
ATC code
C10AA02
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-29

Key facts

Lovastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). Per the US prescribing information, it is used as an adjunct to diet in dyslipidemia and to prevent coronary heart disease.

What it is used for

  • Primary prevention of coronary heart disease (reducing risk of myocardial infarction, unstable angina and coronary revascularization)
  • Slowing progression of coronary atherosclerosis in coronary heart disease
  • Hypercholesterolemia as an adjunct to diet
  • Adolescents 10 to 17 years of age with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (girls at least one year post-menarche)

Dosing

  • In addition to a cholesterol-lowering diet; give with meals
  • Adults: start with 20 mg once a day with the evening meal; range 10 to 80 mg/day in one or two doses; maximum 80 mg/day; adjust at intervals of 4 weeks or more
  • With danazol, diltiazem, dronedarone or verapamil: start with 10 mg, not exceeding 20 mg/day
  • With amiodarone: not exceeding 40 mg/day
  • Adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: 10 to 40 mg/day, maximum 40 mg/day
  • Severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min): doses above 20 mg/day only after careful consideration

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to any component
  • Active liver disease or unexplained persistent elevations of serum transaminases
  • Concomitant strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, HIV protease inhibitors, erythromycin, clarithromycin, nefazodone, cobicistat-containing products)
  • Pregnancy and lactation

Important warnings

  • Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, dose-related, with rare fatalities; risk increased by interacting drugs
  • Rare immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM)
  • Liver dysfunction: persistent transaminase increases to more than 3 times the upper limit of normal in 1.9% of adults
  • Avoid grapefruit juice

Side effects

  • Flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea
  • Myalgia, muscle cramps, headache, rash, asthenia
  • CK elevations of at least twice normal in about 11% of patients; transaminase increases

Interactions

  • Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors and grapefruit juice: increased myopathy risk; contraindicated or to be avoided
  • Gemfibrozil and cyclosporine: avoid the combination
  • Other fibrates or niacin (≥1 g/day): use caution
  • Danazol, diltiazem, dronedarone, verapamil, amiodarone: dose limits apply

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • Contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation

Summary of the official product information, written with AI on 2026-10-29. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

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For patients

Patient information (US)

This product has no separate US patient information.

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Germany

  • LovabetaBetapharm Arzneimittel Gmbh · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-29

Turkey

  • LovastinTOPRAK İLAÇ VE KİMYEVİ MADDELER SAN.VE TİC. A.Ş. · 2 register entries

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

Brand names in 10 more European countries
Cyprus
Lovarem, Lovasynt, Medostatin
Czechia
Medostatin
Denmark
Lovacodan
Greece
Lovatex, Velkalov, Viking
Italy
Lovastatina Doc, Lovastatina Eg, Lovastatina Mylan Pharma, Lovastatina Teva, Lovinacor, Rextat, Tavacor
Malta
Medostatin
Poland
Liprox, Lovasterol
Portugal
Lipdaune, Lipus, Lovastatina Azevedos, Lovastatina Borazil, Lovastatina Germed, Lovastatina Quimedical
Romania
Lovastatină Arena
Spain
Colesvir, Lovastatina Cinfa, Lovastatina Kern Pharma, Lovastatina Normon, Lovastatina Vir, Taucor

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lovastatin (Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) – Prescribing Information, 2026-05-06. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-29. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=df7ddf4f-d569-431e-81f1-9129d7043150
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-29 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.