Research Paper

Submitted By kguthrie14
Words: 618
Pages: 3

Kayla Guthrie
Mrs. Lazarus
English Composition I
11 December 2014
Lovastatin: Why is it bad?
Doctors like to think lovastatin is the best drug to prescribe when a patient has high cholesterol. However, lovastatin can be very dangerous to the human body. When a patient decides to take lovastatin they are taking multiple risk (Altoprev). Not only is the patient taking multiple risk, but so are the doctors. The doctors never know how their patient’s body will react to the drug. Lovastatin is the generic name for Mevacor. Lovastatin should be taken off the market because it can cause leg and muscle cramps, diabetes, damage to brain cells, and liver damage. Lovastatin can cause leg cramps and muscle cramps. The cholesterol – lowering drug, lovastatin, is known to cause varying degrees of muscle and joint pains along with muscle weakness. Muscle cramps are caused while taking lovastatin because, “of increased blood vessels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) indicating muscle breakdown” (Conrad). Statins may cause statin myopathy - there is inflammation of the muscles. The patient feels muscle pain and tenderness. The higher the statin dose, the more likely a patient will experience these pains. The package insert says, “That uncomplicated muscle pain has been reported in approximately one percent to five percent of patients taking lovastatin” (Lupin). If patients take lovastatin it makes their risk higher for diabetes. Scientist examined statins that have been published from 2005 – 2010. Scientist found there was a link between high statin doses and diabetes. After a research in Toronto, Canada there was an increased risk of between 10% and 22% of diabetes for some statins, which the authors say is consistent with previous studies and trials. Patients in higher doses of Lovastatin have a 12 percent higher risk of developing diabetes (Doctor’s). Lovastatin can also cause high risk for liver damage. Patients on some medications, such as Lopid and niacin, have a higher risk of developing liver problems if they are also on statins. Patients on statins should have a blood test six weeks after starting on them in order to check liver function (Lupin). Lovastatin can cause levels of liver enzymes to increase. If the enzymes is slight, most patients continue to take the medicine. However, if the increase is severe, the patient will have to stop taking the medicine, otherwise there is a chance for permeant liver damage (Lovastatin). A 2009 study published in the Journal of Lipid Research