Mevacor (Cont.)

Effects

In previous research studies, people taking Mevacor 20 mg once in the evening were able to, on average, decrease LDL cholesterol by 27 percent and total cholesterol by 19 percent. They were also able to increase HDL by 6 percent. At this dosage, triglycerides actually went up 9 percent. At other doses, triglycerides decreased by as much as 27 percent. The effects of Mevacor on cholesterol and triglyceride levels are greater for the higher doses of Mevacor.
 

When and How to Take Mevacor

Some general considerations for when and how to take the medication include:
 
  • Your Mevacor medication should be taken with the evening meal.
  • Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water. Do not break, chew, or crush the tablets.
  • For the medication to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. It will not work if you stop taking it.
  • Unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so, do not adjust your Mevacor dose.
     

Dietary Instructions

It is recommended that people on Mevacor not drink grapefruit juice because it can increase the levels of Mevacor in the blood, which can increase the risk of developing serious muscle problems. If you are being treated with Mevacor and want to continue drinking grapefruit juice, talk to your doctor about other cholesterol-lowering medications that you can take (see Grapefruit Juice and Mevacor for more information).
 
As with any cholesterol medication, you should continue to eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet as part of your cholesterol-lowering treatment program.
 

Dosing Information

The dosage that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • The medical condition being treated
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As is always the case with any medication, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Mevacor Dosage for more information.)
 
(Mevacor Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;