Drugs Channel
Topics & Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Mevacor Dosage
The recommended dose of Mevacor for most people who are first starting the medication is 20 mg once daily. However, the dosage that your healthcare provider prescribes will be based on several factors, including your age, what you are being treated for, and your cholesterol goal. Dosing for children typically ranges from 10 mg to 20 mg once a day.
The dosage of Mevacor® (lovastatin) your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- Your age
- The medical condition you are being treated for
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be currently taking (see Mevacor Drug Interactions)
- Your cholesterol goal.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
The recommended starting Mevacor dose for most people with high cholesterol is Mevacor 20 mg once a day, taken with the evening meal.
After several weeks, your healthcare provider will recommend that you return to recheck your cholesterol levels. If you have not reached your cholesterol goal at this time, your healthcare provider may choose to increase your dosage. The dosage of Mevacor can also be decreased if bothersome Mevacor side effects occur. Typical dosages range from Mevacor 10 mg to Mevacor 80 mg once a day (or split into two divided doses per day. The maximum recommended daily dose of is 80 mg.
If you have severe kidney disease or take certain medications, a lower starting dosage and/or a lower maximum dosage may be recommended. These medications include:
- Amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®)
- Danazol (Danocrine®)
- Diltiazem (Cardizem®, Cardizem CD®, Cardizem LA®, Cartia XT®, Dilacor XR®, Dilt-CD®, Diltia XT®, Dilt-XR®, Taztia XT®, Tiazac®)
- Verapamil (Calan®, Calan SR, Verelan®, Verelan PM, Isoptin®, Covera-HS®).
(Click Mevacor Drug Interactions for more information about these and other drug interactions.)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD