Meta Information

ID:lovastatin

Name:Lovastatin

Schema Version:1.5

Alternate Names

• Mevacor
• Altoprev

Intervention Type

therapeutic_agent

Expected Cost Mean

Low Cost:

4

High Cost:

20

Cost Type:

monthly

Description:

Generic prescription medication, often covered by insurance.

Summary

Lovastatin is a first-generation statin, a class of drugs that inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. By lowering LDL cholesterol and Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), it directly reduces the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque in arteries. For healthspan, this translates to a significant reduction in the lifelong risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes, which are primary drivers of age-related mortality and morbidity.

Purpose

Lowers cholesterol to reduce lifelong atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk.

Card Summary

A first-generation statin that lowers LDL cholesterol, reducing long-term cardiovascular disease risk.

Drug Class

statins

Drugs In Class

Empty Array

Impact

Score:

7.8

Justification:

Dramatically reduces ASCVD risk, a primary driver of mortality and morbidity.

Evidence

Grade:

A

Score:

9.5

Justification:

Extensive, multi-decade human RCTs and meta-analyses confirm robust cardiovascular event reduction.

Safety

Score:

4.5

Justification:

Well-established safety profile with common but manageable side effects like myopathy.

Flags

• Common side effects include myopathy (muscle pain) and potential liver enzyme elevation.
• Associated with a small but statistically significant increased risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes.
• Interacts with grapefruit juice and certain antifungal and antibiotic medications (CYP3A4 inhibitors).
• Rare but serious risk of rhabdomyolysis, especially when combined with other drugs.

Verdict

A foundational tool for managing cardiovascular risk, a pillar of healthspan.

Created

2026-04-27T01:02:41.012926Z

Model

Gemini 3.1 Pro (High)

Delivery

Route:

oral

Scope:

• systemic

Indication

Focus:

disease_treatment

Description:

Lovastatin is a first-generation statin, a class of drugs that inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. By lowering LDL cholesterol and Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), it directly r...

Typical Protocol

• Doses are titrated to achieve target ApoB or LDL-C levels, typically 20-80 mg daily.