Doctors' Answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" - Mevacor

These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.

Mevacor and sexual desire [posted 1/14/99]
Question: I am a 61 year old active and healthy male. Have taken 20 mg daily of mevacor for approx. 6 years. Earlier this year the dosage was increased to 40 mg/day. Since the increase, I've had difficulty obtaining and maintaining an erection. Some friends have told me that this is due to the mevacor. My brother-in-law takes Lipitor for elevated cholesterol and he has NO erection difficulties. Am interested in your comments regarding this matter and whether lipitor is a better drug. I am assuming that Zocor is better than mevacor, but don't know its sexual side affects.

Answer: I'd try to switch, although this hasn't been a major problem with my patients. Also, try a drug holiday for a couple of weeks. If it is the mevacor, it will abate in 3-4 days. If not, you need an evaluation for the cause.

Mevacor and Back Pain [posted 7/16/98]
Question: I have been taking mevacor for about 3 years now and it seems to give me severe lower back pain and fatigue. Can you tell me if these symptoms are related to Mevacor?

Answer: About the only way is to stop it for 4-5 weeks and see if the problem clears, then restart it and see if it returns. However, I suspect it has nothing to do with this medication.

Mevacor vs. Zocor
Question: My husband is 44 and has a congenital heart valve problem, which throws blood back to the heart and therefore the heart is enlarged. He was taking Mevacor and questran for mildly high cholesterol. His cardiologist suggested that he switch from Mevacor to Zocor because there is less effect on the liver. Our primary physician says this is not the case and that mevacor and zocor are basically the same. Which doctor is correct?

Answer: They both have similar effects on the liver. However, zocor is more effective and will get a lower cholesterol for the same risk.

Mevacor/allergies
Question: I have been taking Mevacor (20 mg) for seven years. Recently we installed vinyl wallpaper in our house and I have shown a tremendous sensitivity to it, manifested by eye irritations. I have no other known allergies, having been tested. Could mevacor cause this problem or at least exacerbate it? I also take verelan (120 mg) and one aspirin.

Answer: Sorry, but I have never heard of this or seen a case. You might want to try asking the company Merck at: 800-672-6372.


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