fluvastatin

Pronunciation:	FLEW va stah tin
Brand:	Lescol, Lescol XL

What is the most important information I should know about fluvastatin?

Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of fluvastatin and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.

Do not take fluvastatin without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.

Alcohol and fluvastatin can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.

Do not take fluvastatin if you are pregnant, could become pregnant during treatment, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.

What is fluvastatin?

Fluvastatin is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. Fluvastatin blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.

Fluvastatin is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol in your blood. Fluvastatin also reduces the amounts of triglycerides (another type of fat) and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. These actions are important in reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Fluvastatin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking fluvastatin?

Do not take fluvastatin without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.

Before taking fluvastatin, tell your doctor if you

have kidney disease,
drink alcoholic beverages,
have a chronic muscular disease, or
have a blood disorder.

You may not be able to take fluvastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Fluvastatin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that fluvastatin is known to cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. Do not take fluvastatin if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

Fluvastatin passes into breast milk and may be harmful to a nursing infant. Do not take fluvastatin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take fluvastatin?

Take fluvastatin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

For the greatest effect, fluvastatin is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. Fluvastatin may also be taken twice daily. Follow your doctor's directions.

Do not crush, chew, or break the extended-release tablets (Lescol XL). Swallow them whole.

Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with fluvastatin and at twelve weeks after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.

Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To realize beneficial effects from fluvastatin, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.

It is important to take fluvastatin regularly to get the most benefit.

Do not stop taking fluvastatin without first talking to your doctor. Fluvastatin may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.

Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with fluvastatin to monitor progress and side effects.

Store fluvastatin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

Symptoms of a fluvastatin overdose include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion.

What should I avoid while taking fluvastatin?

What are the possible side effects of fluvastatin?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking fluvastatin and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or
blurred vision.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take fluvastatin and talk to your doctor if you experience

gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea;
cough;
headache; or
insomnia.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect fluvastatin?

Do not take fluvastatin without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);
niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);
cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane);
digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); or
warfarin (Coumadin).

You may not be able to take fluvastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with fluvastatin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has additional information about fluvastatin written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Fluvastatin is available with a prescription under the brand names Lescol and Lescol XL. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Lescol 20 mg--brown/light-brown capsules
Lescol 40 mg--brown/gold capsules
Lescol XL 80 mt-round, yellow tablets

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 9.01. Revision date: 10/10/05.

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