Mevacor / Lovastatin: Overview
Mevacor, also known as lovastatin, is a cholesterol lowering medication. Mevacor belongs to the statin family of cholesterol drugs and is considered a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor.
Recently, another statin drug, Baycol, was removed from the market after causing at least 52 deaths. As a result, the safety of all statin drugs has subsequently come into question. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that Mevacor causes considerably fewer adverse side effects than Baycol, the agency acknowledges that Mevacor does pose some risk.
All statins increase a patient's chances of developing myositis and rhabdomyolysis, potentially fatal conditions that cause muscle pain and muscle deterioration and may lead to kidney failure. According to the FDA, the chances of developing myositis or rhabdomyolysis from Mevacor are low. As such, Mevacor remains on the market. See a licensed physician if you have concerns regarding the safety of Mevacor, other statins, or any prescription drug. It should be noted that with the exception of Baycol, most doctors believe that the benefits of statin therapy outweigh the risks associated with this class of drugs.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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