HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (such as lovastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin and simvastatin) should not be used by women who are breastfeeding their babies.

Patients with any of the following medical conditions may develop problems that could lead to kidney failure if they take HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors:

The HMG-CoA Reductase reaction is rate-limiting for cholesterol synthesis.

It inhibits the rate-limiting enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) in the multi-step pathway of cholesterol synthesis, in the liver.

HMG-CoA inhibitors, often called "statins," are drugs that block an enzyme called "3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase." This blocks one of the steps in converting fat to cholesterol. These are the most effective