What is the reason for not crushing or chewing extended-release lovastatin tablets?

Extended-release lovastatin tablets are designed to release the medication gradually over time, allowing for a sustained therapeutic effect and improving patient compliance by reducing the frequency of dosing. Crushing or chewing these tablets alters their formulation, which disrupts the extended-release mechanism. This alteration can lead to the rapid release of the active ingredient, which may result in a peak in medication levels in the bloodstream that could increase the risk of side effects and may not provide the intended therapeutic benefit over the full dosing period. Therefore, it's crucial to maintain the integrity of the extended-release formulation to ensure safe and effective management of cholesterol levels.