Mevacor and Muscle Aches

More than 1 percent of patients taking Mevacor experience muscle aches. Muscle problems are more common when Mevacor is first started or when the dosage is increased, but they can happen at any time. If you are taking Mevacor and muscle aches develop, talk to your healthcare provider. In rare cases, muscle aches are an indication of a serious muscle problem that may lead to the severe breakdown of muscles in the body.

 

Mevacor and Muscle Aches: An Introduction

Muscle aches are a possible side effect of Mevacor® (lovastatin), occurring in more than 1 percent of people taking the drug. Muscle aches are more common when Mevacor is first started or when the dosage is increased. For most people taking Mevacor, muscle aches occur without any other more serious muscle symptoms.
 

Mevacor and Muscle Aches -- What to Watch For

However, in rare cases (less than 0.1 percent) people can develop serious problems with their muscles while on Mevacor, and muscle aches can be one of the symptoms. Two serious muscle problems that are rarely seen in people taking Mevacor are myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is very serious because it can cause muscles to break down. This can cause the kidneys to stop working properly (acute kidney failure) and, in some cases, result in loss of life.
 
If you develop muscle aches, weakness, tenderness or pain while you are taking Mevacor (especially if you also have a fever or feel ill), call your healthcare provider immediately. This could be a sign that you have a serious condition that needs treatment right away.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;