how to stop taking lovastatin?

Question

Can taking Lovastatin be stopped abrubtly? My friend wants to know due to muscle pain, but the doctor is gone 'till next week. Thanks.

Answer 1

Lovastatin can be stopped abruptly and should be stopped if you experience muscle aches and pains. If there is ever a questions of stopping a medication when your doctor is away, you can ask your pharmacist if there are any adverse reactions to doing so. At the same time, you need to consult your physician's office that you are having the pains. Once off for a week or so if the pains have gone away usually your doctor will either switch your medication to every other day or switch you to another medication and if you have the same reaction to it then you have an intolerance for statins. Another option your doctor may give you is to take Zetia or Niaspan as these lipid lowering agents are not statins. There are also natural methods such as Red Yeast Rice, Garlic Capsules, Fish Oil, and Flaxseed Oil which can be used to help lower your triglycerides/cholesterol.

Answer 2

ohh yes I can relate to that one to well.I have charlie horses or muscle spasms caused by lovastatin in fact any statin has the same results. I stopped it imeadiately without no doctors consultation. The only thing is the cholesterol will be on the increase again. Then I was prescribed the new non-statin drugs they over dosed me and I was told my Cholesterol was to low then a few months later I ended up with multiple kidney stones. They said it was unrelated but I highly doubt that I think they were covering their rears from a possible lawsuit which I wouldn't do to begin with.