O General Information and Indications:
Fluvastatin is used with diet changes
(restriction of cholesterol and fat intake) to reduce the amount of
cholesterol and certain fatty substances in the blood. Fluvastatin is in a
class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works
by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body. Accumulation of
cholesterol and fats along the walls of the arteries (a process known as
atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to
the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. Lowering blood levels of
cholesterol and fats may help to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain),
strokes, and heart attacks.
O Information For Users:
Fluvastatin comes as a capsule and an
extended-release (long-acting) tablet to take by mouth. The capsule is
usually taken with or without food once a day at bedtime or twice a day. The
extended-release tablet is usually taken once a day at bedtime with or
without food. To help you remember to take fluvastatin, take it around the
same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label, ask
your doctor or pharmacist If you have any questions. Take fluvastatin
exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often
than prescribed by your health care provider.
Swallow the extended-release tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush
them.
Your doctor might start you on a low dose of fluvastatin and slowly increase
your dose.
Continue taking fluvastatin even if you feel well. Do not discontinue taking
fluvastatin without informing your doctor.
Other uses for this medicine
O Special
precautions:
o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
allergy to fluvastatin or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription
medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are
taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood
thinners') such as warfarin; cimetidine (Tagamet); diclofenac (Cataflam,
Voltaren); glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase); ketoconazole (Nizoral);
omeprazole (Prilosec); other cholesterol-lowering medications such as
fenofibrate (Tricor) and gemfibrozil (Lopid); phenytoin (Dilantin);
ranitidine (Zantac); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); and spironolactone (Aldactone).
Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you
carefully for side effects.
o if you are taking cholestyramine (Questran), take it at least 2 hours
before fluvastatin.
o Inform your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol and if you have
or have ever had liver or kidney disease.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are
breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking fluvastatin, stop taking
fluvastatin and call your doctor without delay. Fluvastatin may harm the
fetus.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or
dentist that you are taking fluvastatin.
o if you have a severe infection, surgery, an injury, low blood pressure, or
seizures while taking fluvastatin, talk to your doctor about stopping the
medication for a while.
Eat a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet. This kind of diet includes cottage
cheese, fat-free milk, fish (not canned in oil), vegetables, poultry, egg
whites, and polyunsaturated oils and margarines (corn, safflower, canola,
and soybean oils). Avoid foods with excess fat in them such as meat
(especially liver and fatty meat), egg yolks, whole milk, cream, butter,
shortening, lard, pastries, cakes, cookies, gravy, peanut butter, chocolate,
olives, potato chips, coconut, cheese (other than cottage cheese), coconut
oil, palm oil, and fried foods.
O
Possible Adverse
Effects:
Fluvastatin may cause adverse effects.
Inform your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go
away:
o headache
o heartburn
o stomach pain
o upset stomach
o difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
o sinus pain
Some adverse effects could be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon,
but if you experience any of them, call your doctor without delay:
o muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
o lack of energy or fever
o yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaundice
o pain during urination
o urinary urgency and/or frequency
O Brand Name(s):
o Lescol®
o Lescol® XL |
