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Mevacor and Joint Pain
Joint pain is a rare side effect of Mevacor. If you are taking Mevacor and joint pain becomes a problem, there are many at-home remedies that you can try to help alleviate the pain. These remedies include pain relief medicines, moist heat, dry heat, and cold packs.
Joint pain is a rare but possible side effect of Mevacor® (lovastatin). In clinical studies, up to 0.5 to 1 percent of people taking Mevacor reported joint pain, although the exact percentage was not reported. It is important to note that joint pain did not occur significantly more frequently in people taking Mevacor compared to people taking a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredients).
If you are taking Mevacor and joint pain becomes a problem, there are some things that you can try. These short-term relief suggestions include medications and heat/cold remedies.
Medications
People who experience joint pain with Mevacor often benefit from using over-the-counter pain relief medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), aspirin, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®).
Heat/Cold Remedies
Moist heat (such as a warm bath or shower) or dry heat (such as a heating pad) placed on the painful area of the joint for about 15 minutes may relieve joint pain. In some cases, cold packs (a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel) can relieve pain or numb the sore area. If you have poor circulation, do not use cold packs. Water therapy in a heated pool or whirlpool may also relieve joint pain and stiffness.
For people taking Mevacor, joint pain is a possible side effect. Make sure to talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have concerns about this. Also, keep in mind that it is not possible for your healthcare provider to know whether you will have a side effect with a medicine that you have never taken before. Therefore, if you notice any joint pain while taking Mevacor, talk to your healthcare provider. If the pain continues after the first couple of months, your healthcare provider may recommend adjusting the Mevacor dosage or switching to another cholesterol medication.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD