Altocor (Lovastatin Extended-Release Tablets) Drug Information: Overdosage and Contraindications

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May 24, 2012

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Heart disease facts

Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. Over a million people each year will have a heart attack and 25% will die before they get to the hospital while or in the Emergency Department.
Prevention is the key to treatment of heart disease.
Diagnosis of heart disease is often made by careful history taken by a health care practitioner. Some individuals may have atypical symptoms, including almost none at all.
The testing strategy to confirm the diagnosis and plan appropriate treatment needs to be individualized for each patient diagnosed with heart disease.
Treatment of heart disease depends upon the severity of disease, and is often directed by the symptoms experienced by the affected individual.

Introduction to heart disease

The heart is like any other muscle, requiring oxygen and nutrient-rich blood for it t...

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OVERDOSE

After oral administration of lovastatin immediate-release to mice the median lethal dose observed was > 15 g/m².

Five healthy human volunteers have received up to 200 mg of lovastatin as a single dose without clinically significant adverse experiences. A few cases of accidental overdosage with lovastatin immediate-release have been reported; no patients had any specific symptoms, and all patients recovered without sequelae. The maximum dose taken was 5 g - 6 g.

Until further experience is obtained, no specific treatment of overdosage with ALTOCOR™ can be recommended.

The dialyzability of lovastatin and its metabolites in man is not known at present.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Hypersensitivity to any component of this medication. Active liver disease or unexplained persistent elevations of serum transaminases (see WARNINGS).

Pregnancy and Lactation

Atherosclerosis is a chronic process and the discontinuation of lipid-lowering drugs during pregnancy should have little impact on the outcome of long-term therapy of primary hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, cholesterol and other products of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway are essential components for fetal development, including synthesis of steroids and cell membranes. Because of the ability of inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase such as ALTOCOR™ (lovastatin extended-release tablets) to decrease the synthesis of cholesterol and possibly other products of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, ALTOCOR™ (lovastatin extended-release tablets) is contraindicated during pregnancy and in nursing mothers. ALTOCOR™ (lovastatin extended-release tablets) should be administered to women of childbearing age only when such patients are highly unlikely to conceive. If the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, ALTOCOR™ (lovastatin extended-release tablets) should be discontinued immediately and the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus (see PRECAUTIONS, Pregnancy).

Last reviewed on RxList: 4/3/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.