What is Fluvastatin (Lescol)? 

Fluvastatin is in a group of drugs called HMG CoA  reductase inhibitors, or "statins." Fluvastatin reduces levels  of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides  in the blood, while increasing levels  of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL). 

Fluvastatin is used  to treat high cholesterol in adults  and children who are at least 10 years old.  Lowering your  cholesterol can  help prevent  heart disease  and hardening of the arteries, conditions that  can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease. 

Fluvastatin may  also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide. 

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

You should not take fluvastatin  if you are allergic to it, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease. Stop taking  this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. 

Before taking fluvastatin, tell your doctor if you have ever had liver  or kidney disease, diabetes,  or a thyroid disorder,  or if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily. 

In rare cases,  fluvastatin can cause a condition that results in  the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call  your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness,  or weakness especially if  you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine. 

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Fluvastatin will  not be  as effective in lowering  your cholesterol if you  do not follow  a cholesterol-lowering diet plan. 

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels  and may increase your risk of liver damage. 

There are many other drugs that can increase your risk of serious medical problems  if you take them together with fluvastatin. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products.  Do not start a new medication  without telling  your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you. 

Fluvastatin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely. 

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

You should not take fluvastatin if you are allergic to it, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease. 

If you have any of these  other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment  or special tests: 

• history of liver disease; 
• history of kidney disease; 
• diabetes; 
• a thyroid disorder; or 
• If you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily. 

In rare cases, fluvastatin can cause a condition that result  in the breakdown  of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. This condition may be more likely to occur in older adults  and in people who have kidney disease  or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). 

Tell  your doctor about all other medications you use. Certain other drugs can increase your risk  of serious muscle problems, and it is very important that  your doctor knows if you are using any  of them:

• erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin); 
• fluconazole (Diflucan) 
• gemfibrozil (Lopid), fenofibric acid (Fibricor, Trilipix),  or fenofibrate (Antara, Fenoglide, Lipofen, Lofibra, Tricor, Triglide); 
• medicines that contain niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others); or 
• drugs that weaken  your immune system, such as steroids, cancer medicine, or medicines used  to prevent organ transplant rejection, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf). 

FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not take fluvastatin if you are pregnant. Stop taking this medication and  tell your doctor right away if  you become pregnant. Use effective birth control to avoid pregnancy while you  are taking fluvastatin. Fluvastatin may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby.  Do not breast-feed while  you are taking fluvastatin. 

Notes: Dr. Nelson Crumfield

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EditText of this page (last edited June 8, 2010)