Lovastatin Question

goldenboys · 07-24-2006, 02:23 PM

Was taken off Zocor by insurance company...they will no longer cover it. The only thing they cover is Lovastatin and this crap is tearing my stomach up, nausea & giving me the worse headaches.

I take it with my last meal as instructed and by midnight I am in pain. I haven't been able to find anything that states this drug causes this type of pain. If anyone has ever taken this can you tell me if this is normal? I'm going to have my 1st blood test in 9 months on Aug 11 and am thinking of just stopping it and see how the test goes. Compared to Zocor this stuff is "gut wrenching"!!!!

Kadey · 07-24-2006, 08:41 PM

I've been on 40mg Lovastatin for a little over a year. Three months ago I decided on my own to lower my dosage to 20mg daily as I was experiencing some muscle aching in my arms in the evenings. Just had my latest 3 month check-up and I had no significant changes in my cholesterol numbers... not enough to warrant upping the dosage again. I'm very pleased. I take my Lovastatin just as I head off to bed with a small glass of "light" orange juice and 150mg COQ10.

Imacarbuff · 07-24-2006, 10:16 PM

I'm surprised that you did not have problems with the Zocor-a stronger statin. Lovastatin is supposed to be a mild statin. From what I have learned over the past six months.....Drs seem to prescribe too high of a dose when they hand out a patients first prescription.

ARIZONA73 · 07-24-2006, 11:25 PM

Well, my opinion is that many doctors do tend to overshoot the dosage, which lands many people in trouble. But, in any case, if the Lovastatin is in fact causing pain and discomfort, then by all means stop taking it, and immediately report it to your doctor. Nobody should have to put up with that.

Lenin · 07-25-2006, 09:05 AM

goldenboys,

Inquire again. I cannot IMAGINE an insurance company allowing only lovastatin as the single statin in their pharmacopeia? It's very weak.
Ask about Lipitor, Pravachol, Crestor.

Alas, lovastatin is very cheap compared to the others, and a crummy insurance company might choose only on that basis. I assume you are STUCK with that company because it's what your employer offers, take it or leave it?

PErhaps the Zocor is allowed under the new generic formulation, simvastatin.

Gastritis, nausea, and headache really aren't what people see with statins. Maybe it's something else that's causing it?