Lovastatin for cholesterol control? What you need to know (Lovastatin Extended-Release Tablets)

High cholesterol is a common problem for many people these days. Your doctor may have prescribed you a statin to control your cholesterol. Lovastatin, one of those drugs, is what we are talking about in this article. It helps reduce the bad cholesterol in your body and reduces the risk of serious conditions like heart attack and stroke.

What really happens with this medicine?

Simply put, Lovastatin is a drug that controls the levels of cholesterol and unwanted fats in your blood. Let's see how it does that.

There are two main types of cholesterol in our bodies.

• LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein): This is what we call "bad cholesterol." It can build up in blood vessels and block them.
• HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein): This is called "good cholesterol." It carries bad cholesterol that has accumulated in the blood vessels to the liver for removal.

Lovastatin works by lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides, a type of fat in your body, and increasing good cholesterol (HDL). This significantly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Things to tell your doctor before taking this medicine

It is very important that your doctor is fully aware of your health condition before prescribing Lovastatin. Therefore, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

• If you have diabetes .
• If you are a regular drinker .
• If you have kidney disease or liver disease .
• If you have frequent muscle twitches or pain .
• If you have had a previous stroke .
• If you have thyroid problems.
• If you have had an allergic reaction to this Lovastatin medicine, any other medicine, food, or preservative.
• If you are trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant. (This is very important)
• If you are a mother who is breastfeeding .

How exactly do I use this medicine?

This is a pill that you take by mouth. Try to take it at the same time every day , exactly as your doctor has prescribed.

• Very important: Do not break, crush, or chew this tablet. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
• This is a medicine that should be taken on an empty stomach . That means, take it at least 30 minutes before a meal or 2 hours after a meal.
• Continue to use this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop.
• Do not take this medication with grapefruit juice for any reason. It may have unwanted effects on the effectiveness of the medication.

What if I overdose?

If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, do not panic and immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

What if I miss a dose of medication?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember that day. However, if it is the next day when you remember, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the usual time. Never take a double dose.

Other things that may interact with this medicine

Lovastatin can interact with some other medications and foods, so it's important to tell your doctor about all the medications, vitamins, and herbal products you're taking.

Possible side effects while taking the medicine

Like any medicine, Lovastatin can cause some side effects. Although most of these are minor, there are some things we should be especially aware of.

How to store medicine safely?

• Keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Store at room temperature, away from light and excessive heat.
• Keep the medicine container tightly closed.
• Throw away expired medications. If possible, hand them in to a hospital or pharmacy's drug disposal program. Otherwise, take the pills out of the container, mix them with something like used tea leaves or coffee grounds, seal them in a bag, and throw them in the trash. Never flush them down the toilet.

Lovastatin, cholesterol, high cholesterol, statin, statins, heart attack, stroke, LDL, HDL, side effects