Drug & supplement interaction

Nickel + Lovastatin

Lovastatin brand names: Mevacor, Altocor.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Nickel and Lovastatin in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Lovastatin states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Nickel and Lovastatin

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Lovastatin and Nickel in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Nickel safety at a glance

Nickel overall Use caution Nickel is a common allergen and can be toxic at higher doses, so supplements are generally not recommended.
Pregnancy Likely Safe When used orally and appropriately. Nickel is safe to use during pregnancy and lactation in doses below the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 1 mg daily. The... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Safe When used orally and appropriately. Nickel is safe to use during pregnancy and lactation in doses below the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 1 mg daily. The... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Lovastatin and Nickel? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Lovastatin

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Lovastatin is filed under 8 classifications — including hmg-coa reductase inhibitors ("statins"), organic anion-transporting polypeptide substrates (oatp), cytochrome p450 2c9 (cyp2c9) inhibitors. Nickel has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being disulfiram (antabuse) (moderate) — and none of Lovastatin’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Nickel Does Interact With Other Medications

Nickel has 1 moderate known drug interaction in our database — Lovastatin isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Nickel

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Nickel. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Nickel and Lovastatin May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 4 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Shortness of breath Worth acting on reported in 4.8% of FDA reports for Lovastatin Additional detail

    Nickel

    “Orally and topically, nickel can cause hypersensitivity reactions in sensitized individuals. Nickel sensitivity, which can cause dermatologic and gastrointestinal symptoms, has an estimated prevalence of 11% in the general population, with a higher overall incidence in females than in males. About 10% of nickel-sensitive people react to ingestion of 550-1300 mcg.”

    Nickel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

    6 sources cited
    1. 64916. Ring, J., Brockow, K., and Behrendt, H. Adverse reactions to foods. J.Chromatogr.B Biomed.Sci.Appl. 5-25-2001;756(1-2):3-10. PubMed
    2. 65017. Nijhawan, R. I., Molenda, M., Zirwas, M. J., and Jacob, S. E. Systemic contact dermatitis. Dermatol.Clin. 2009;27(3):355-64, vii. PubMed
    3. 65045. Sunderman, F. W., Jr. A review of the metabolism and toxicology of nickel. Ann.Clin.Lab Sci. 1977;7(5):377-398.
    4. 99668. Alinaghi F, Bennike NH, Egeberg A, Thyssen JP, Johansen JD. Prevalence of contact allergy in the general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Contact Dermatitis. 2019 Feb;80(2):77-85. PubMed
    5. 64994. Thyssen, J. P., Linneberg, A., Menne, T., and Johansen, J. D. The epidemiology of contact allergy in the general population--prevalence and main findings. Contact Dermatitis 2007;57(5):287-299. PubMed
    6. 99663. Di Gioacchino M, Ricciardi L, De Pità O, et al. Nickel oral hyposensitization in patients with systemic nickel allergy syndrome. Ann Med. 2014 Feb;46(1):31-7. Epub 2013 Nov 21. PubMed

    “Particulate matter-associated nickel exposures have been associated with cardiopulmonary diseases. Nickel exposure may also cause variable degrees of cardiovascular system poisoning. In one case report, a 45-year-old male developed leukocytosis, low-grade fevers, dyspnea, and fatigue after implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).”

    Nickel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in fatigue.

    3 sources cited
    1. 65021. Zhang, Z., Chau, P. Y., Lai, H. K., and Wong, C. M. A review of effects of particulate matter-associated nickel and vanadium species on cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Int.J.Environ.Health Res. 2009;19(3):175-185. PubMed
    2. 16333. Denkhaus E, Salnikow K. Nickel essentiality, toxicity, and carcinogenicity. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2002;42:35-56. PubMed
    3. 99670. Fung E, Fong MW, Correa AJ, Yoon AJ, Grazette LP. Fulminant eosinophilic myocarditis following ICD implantation in a patient with undisclosed nickel allergy. Int J Cardiol. 2016 Jan 15;203:1018-9. PubMed

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A severe allergic reaction / Hives Worth acting on Additional detail

    Nickel

    Recorded for Nickel in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Shortness of breath above.

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • An allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    Nickel

    “Orally and topically, nickel can cause dermatitis and other hypersensitivity reactions in sensitized individuals. Nickel exposure may cause systemic contact dermatitis. Orally, nickel sulfate has been associated with classic systemic allergic contact eczema. Topical exposure can occur from the use of common equipment containing nickel.”

    Nickel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

    6 sources cited
    1. 65045. Sunderman, F. W., Jr. A review of the metabolism and toxicology of nickel. Ann.Clin.Lab Sci. 1977;7(5):377-398.
    2. 65017. Nijhawan, R. I., Molenda, M., Zirwas, M. J., and Jacob, S. E. Systemic contact dermatitis. Dermatol.Clin. 2009;27(3):355-64, vii. PubMed
    3. 64916. Ring, J., Brockow, K., and Behrendt, H. Adverse reactions to foods. J.Chromatogr.B Biomed.Sci.Appl. 5-25-2001;756(1-2):3-10. PubMed
    4. 99665. Maridet C, Atge B, Amici JM, Taïeb A, Milpied B. The electronic cigarette: the new source of nickel contact allergy of the 21st century? Contact Dermatitis. 2015 Jul;73(1):49-50. Epub 2015 Mar 20. PubMed
    5. 99669. Shim TN, Kosztyuova T. Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Electronic Cigarette. Dermatitis. 2018 Mar/Apr;29(2):94-95. PubMed
    6. 99671. Ledon JA, Tosti A. CrossFit-Associated Allergic Contact Dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2017 Nov/Dec;28(6):368. PubMed

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Tiredness reported in 6.0% of FDA reports for Lovastatin Additional detail

    Nickel

    Recorded for Nickel in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Shortness of breath above.

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Stomach pain / Diarrhea / Nausea / Vomiting reported in 5.5% of FDA reports for Lovastatin Additional detail

    Nickel

    “Orally, consuming high doses of nickel 0.5-2.5 grams has been reported to cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Patients with systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS) can experience colic and diarrhea after consumption of nickel-rich foods.”

    Nickel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

    1 source cited
    1. 99663. Di Gioacchino M, Ricciardi L, De Pità O, et al. Nickel oral hyposensitization in patients with systemic nickel allergy syndrome. Ann Med. 2014 Feb;46(1):31-7. Epub 2013 Nov 21. PubMed

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A skin rash Additional detail

    Nickel

    “Orally, nickel is well tolerated when taken in amounts found in foods, which are typically below the tolerable upper intake level (UL). However, doses above the UL can cause serious adverse effects.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    All routes of administration: Contact dermatitis.

    Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

    Orally: Chronic consumption of large quantities of nickel might increase the risk of cancers of the lung, nose…”

    Nickel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    Lovastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Lovastatin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Nickel but not commonly for Lovastatin: kidney problems, a stuffy or runny nose, bone thinning and wheezing.

Effects for Lovastatin come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Nickel come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 25,528 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Lovastatin that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Nickel in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Safe

When used orally and appropriately. Nickel is safe to use during pregnancy and lactation in doses below the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 1 mg daily. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of nickel when taken in doses above the UL during pregnancy and lactation.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Lovastatin Products Have a Food Rule — Nickel Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Lovastatin says to take it with food. If you take Nickel on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Lovastatin with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Lovastatin products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Lovastatin tablets USP should be given with meals.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Lovastatin — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

From our Q&A

Questions About Nickel or Lovastatin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Nickel or Lovastatin, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Lovastatin

This page covers Nickel only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lovastatin page lists 184 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 8 major · 140 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Lovastatin page

“Lovastatin (Mevacor) lowers cholesterol, and the liver clears it through an enzyme called CYP3A4, which is where most of these 184 supplements collide with it. This list deserves careful attention.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Lovastatin interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Nickel as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 685 real supplement products containing Nickel, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Nickel. Even though Nickel itself has no known interaction with Lovastatin, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Nickel and Lovastatin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Nickel
Top 25%

#286 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Lovastatin
Steady interest

#2,074 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Nickel reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Nickel and Lovastatin records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Nickel

What is Nickel?

  • General trace-mineral supplementation
  • Supporting iron and other nutrient metabolism (theoretical)
  • Marketed for bone or hormone support

Nickel is a trace element found in tiny amounts in many foods, and most people get plenty through diet. There is no proven need for nickel supplements, and because nickel is a common cause of allergic reactions and can be toxic in higher amounts, most people should not take it. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using any nickel-containing supplement.

Trace mineral (metallic element) · Tablets, capsules, and as part of some multivitamin or trace-mineral supplements (often as nickel sulfate or nickel chloride)

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Nickel is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Nickel record says about it on its own.

Nickel: dosing

There is no established recommended supplement dose of nickel, because a clear human requirement has not been proven and most people get enough from food. Health authorities have set upper limits to help avoid harmful exposure, but this does not mean people need to take supplements to reach any amount.If a product contains nickel, follow the label and do not take more than directed.

From our Nickel monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Nickel monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Lovastatin

What Is Lovastatin Used For?

Brand names: Mevacor, Altocor

Lovastatin is used to lower high LDL ("bad") cholesterol and total cholesterol in people whose levels have not improved enough with diet alone. It is also used to slow the buildup of plaque in the arteries (coronary atherosclerosis) in people who already have coronary heart disease.

In adults without existing heart disease but with high cholesterol and low HDL ("good") cholesterol, lovastatin tablets are approved to reduce the risk of heart attack, unstable angina, and the need for procedures to open blocked arteries. Lovastatin tablets are also approved for adolescents aged 10–17 with a specific inherited condition called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH), when diet changes alone haven't been enough.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Lovastatin

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (25,528 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 1,535 reports
Nausea 1,401 reports
Diarrhea 1,275 reports
Dyspnea 1,226 reports
Dizziness 1,159 reports
See full Lovastatin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Nickel

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Nickel — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
1Moderate
0Minor
2,828No known interaction
Moderate

1 interaction

No interaction 2,828 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Nickel References

The 76 references that drive our Nickel monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2002.
  2. Sharma AD. Disulfiram and low nickel diet in the management of hand eczema: a clinical study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2006;72:113-8. PubMed
  3. Denkhaus E, Salnikow K. Nickel essentiality, toxicity, and carcinogenicity. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2002;42:35-56. PubMed
  4. Barceloux DG. Nickel. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1999;37:239-58.
  5. Sunderman, F. W., Jr. Nasal toxicity, carcinogenicity, and olfactory uptake of metals. Ann.Clin.Lab Sci 2001;31(1):3-24.
  6. Hayes, R. B. The carcinogenicity of metals in humans. Cancer Causes Control 1997;8(3):371-385. PubMed
  7. Nemery, B. Metal toxicity and the respiratory tract. Eur Respir.J 1990;3(2):202-219. DOI
  8. Andersen, A., Barlow, L., Engeland, A., Kjaerheim, K., Lynge, E., and Pukkala, E. Work-related cancer in the Nordic countries. Scand.J.Work Environ.Health 1999;25 Suppl 2:1-116.
  9. Haber, L. T., Erdreicht, L., Diamond, G. L., Maier, A. M., Ratney, R., Zhao, Q., and Dourson, M. L. Hazard identification and dose response of inhaled nickel-soluble salts. Regul.Toxicol.Pharmacol. 2000;31(2 Pt 1):210-230. PubMed
  10. Kelleher, P., Pacheco, K., and Newman, L. S. Inorganic dust pneumonias: the metal-related parenchymal disorders. Environ.Health Perspect. 2000;108 Suppl 4:685-696. PubMed
  11. Seilkop, S. K. Occupational exposures and pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis. Occup.Environ.Med. 2001;58(1):63-64. PubMed
  12. Williams, M. D. and Sandler, A. B. The epidemiology of lung cancer. Cancer Treat.Res. 2001;105:31-52. PubMed
  13. Laffargue, P., Hildebrand, H. F., Lecomte-Houcke, M., Biehl, V., Breme, J., and Decoulx, J. [Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone 20 years after femoral fracture treated by plate-screw fixation: analysis of corrosion products and their role in malignan
  14. Ring, J., Brockow, K., and Behrendt, H. Adverse reactions to foods. J.Chromatogr.B Biomed.Sci.Appl. 5-25-2001;756(1-2):3-10. PubMed
  15. Egedahl, R., Carpenter, M., and Lundell, D. Mortality experience among employees at a hydrometallurgical nickel refinery and fertiliser complex in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta (1954-95). Occup.Environ.Med. 2001;58(11):711-715. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Nickel and Lovastatin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Nickel with Lovastatin?
We do not list a known interaction between Nickel and Lovastatin. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Nickel and Lovastatin have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Should I take Nickel and Lovastatin at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Lovastatin says to take it with food. If you take Nickel on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Lovastatin with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Lovastatin products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Nickel and Lovastatin combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Lovastatin is filed under 8 classifications, and Nickel has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Lovastatin's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Nickel interact with any other medications?
Yes. Nickel has 1 documented drug interaction in our database — Lovastatin is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Lovastatin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Lovastatin has documented interactions with 184 supplements in our database — Nickel is not one of them. The Lovastatin interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Lovastatin and Nickel?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.