Mevacor and Pregnancy

Because Mevacor can potentially cause harm to an unborn child, it is important to be aware of the risks of Mevacor and pregnancy. Mevacor is considered a pregnancy Category X medicine, which means it showed problems to the fetus in pregnant animals studies and in humans who had mistakenly taken the drug. Therefore, the drug is not recommended for women who are pregnant.

 

Mevacor and Pregnancy: An Overview

Mevacor® (lovastatin) is a pregnancy Category X medicine, meaning that Mevacor could potentially cause harm to your unborn child. Therefore, Mevacor is not recommended for women who are pregnant. If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider immediately.
 

Mevacor and Pregnancy Category X

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category X is the classification given to medicines that show problems to the fetus in pregnant animal studies or in humans that have mistakenly taken the medicine. The use of a Category X medicine during pregnancy is not recommended.
 

Mevacor and Pregnancy: Suggestions

The effects of high cholesterol do not cause problems for many years, or even decades. Therefore, it should be expected that if a woman does not take cholesterol medicine during pregnancy, it will have little impact on any long-term risks. Since there is little benefit and a very real risk during pregnancy, your healthcare provider will recommend that you do not take Mevacor while pregnant. For those women thinking of becoming pregnant, please make sure that you discuss Mevacor and pregnancy with your healthcare provider.
 
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;