What is the most important information I should know about fluvastatin?
You should not take fluvastatin if you have liver disease, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away.
Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with fluvastatin. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.
What is fluvastatin?
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 lower cholesterol and triglycerides (types of fat) in the blood and to slow the build-up of plaque (fatty deposits) in your blood vessels.
Fluvastatin is also used to lower the risk of heart complications in certain people with coronary heart disease.
Fluvastatin is used in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.
Fluvastatin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking fluvastatin?
You should not take fluvastatin if you are allergic to it, or if:
- you have active liver disease; or
- you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Fluvastatin can harm an unborn baby. Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are taking fluvastatin.
Fluvastatin can pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in the nursing baby. Do not take fluvastatin if you are breast-feeding.
To make sure fluvastatin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver disease;
- muscle pain or weakness;
- kidney disease;
- diabetes;
- a thyroid disorder; or
- if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily.
Fluvastatin can cause a condition that results 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).
Fluvastatin is not approved for use by anyone younger than 10 years old.
How should I take fluvastatin?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Fluvastatin is usually taken once or twice daily, with or without food.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open a fluvastatin tablet or capsule. Swallow it whole. Tell your doctor if you have trouble swallowing the pill.
You can take an extended-release tablet at any time of day.
The regular tablet or capsule should be taken at the same time(s) each day. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
While using fluvastatin, you may need frequent blood tests.
It may take up to 4 weeks before your cholesterol levels improve. Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High cholesterol usually has no symptoms.
Fluvastatin is only part of a complete treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you are more than 12 hours late, skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking fluvastatin?
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.
What are the possible side effects of fluvastatin?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
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, or dark colored urine.
Also call your doctor at once if you have:
-
signs of a kidney problem --little or no urinating; painful or difficult urination; swelling in your feet or ankles; feeling tired or short of breath; or
-
liver problems --upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, tiredness, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Common side effects may include:
- muscle pain;
- headache; or
- stomach pain, nausea, or indigestion.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect fluvastatin?
Some drugs can increase your risk of serious muscle problems if you take them together with fluvastatin. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:
- gemfibrozil, fenofibric acid, fenofibrate; or
- medicines that contain niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others).
Many other drugs can interact with fluvastatin. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
- other cholesterol medications;
- an antibiotic or antifungal medicine;
- diabetes medicine;
- heart medication;
- seizure medication; or
- medicine to treat excess stomach acid or stomach ulcer.
This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with fluvastatin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about fluvastatin.
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.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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