Lovastatin — HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.
Generic name
Lovastatin
Class
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)
Mechanism
Lactone prodrug hydrolyzed to its beta-hydroxyacid, which inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an early step in cholesterol synthesis.
Used for
Adjunct to diet for primary hypercholesterolemia when diet and other nonpharmacologic measures are inadequate; Reduce MI, unstable angina and coronary revascularization risk in people without symptomatic cardiovascular disease who have average-to-moderately elevated total/LDL cholesterol and below-average HDL; Slow coronary atherosclerosis progression in coronary heart disease as part of a cholesterol-lowering strategy
Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis; Active liver disease or unexplained transaminase elevation are contraindications in the cited label; The cited lovastatin product label lists pregnancy and lactation as contraindications
Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.
Label date: 20260723 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.
Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.
Mechanism: Inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a precursor of cholesterol.
On both cards: Common side effects — Constipation; Headache; Myalgia
Only on the Rosuvastatin card: Used for — As an adjunct to diet to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with primary hyperlipidemia and to slow atherosclerosis progression in adults; Reduction of major cardiovascular events in adults without established coronary disease who meet the label's age, hsCRP of at least 2 mg/L and additional-risk-factor criteria; Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults and children aged 8 years and older, as an adjunct to diet; Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults and children aged 7 years and older, with other LDL-lowering treatment or alone when unavailable · Common side effects — Nausea; Asthenia · Warnings — Myopathy / rhabdomyolysis; Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy; Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis · Interactions — Cyclosporine, gemfibrozil; Aluminum/magnesium hydroxide antacids; Warfarin
Mechanism: Prodrug hydrolyzed to simvastatin acid, which inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis.
On both cards: Common side effects — Constipation; Headache; Abdominal pain
Only on the Simvastatin card: Used for — Reduction of coronary death, nonfatal MI, stroke or revascularization need in high-risk adults with the established vascular disease or diabetes described in the label; As an adjunct to diet to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with primary hyperlipidemia or in adults and children aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; As an adjunct to other LDL-lowering treatment in adults with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; As an adjunct to diet for hypertriglyceridemia in adults · Common side effects — Upper respiratory infection; Nausea · Warnings — Myopathy / rhabdomyolysis; Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy; Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis · Interactions — Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors; Cyclosporine, danazol, gemfibrozil; Coumarin anticoagulants
Mechanism: Reversibly inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a cholesterol precursor.
On both cards: Common side effects — Headache
Only on the Pravastatin card: Used for — Adjunct to diet for primary hyperlipidemia in adults, or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in children aged 8 years and older; Reduction of myocardial infarction, revascularization and cardiovascular death in adults with elevated LDL-C without clinically evident coronary heart disease; Reduction of specified coronary/cerebrovascular events and slowing coronary atherosclerosis in adults with clinically evident coronary heart disease; Adjunct to diet for hypertriglyceridemia or primary dysbetalipoproteinemia in adults · Common side effects — Musculoskeletal pain; Nausea / vomiting; Upper respiratory infection; Diarrhea · Warnings — Myopathy / rhabdomyolysis; Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy; Hepatic dysfunction · Interactions — Gemfibrozil; Cyclosporine; Clarithromycin / erythromycin
An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.
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