What is fluvastatin?
Fluvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol
(a type of fat) in the body.
Fluvastatin reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the
blood. 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 should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking fluvastatin?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to fluvastatin, if you are pregnant or
breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease.
Before taking fluvastatin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
-
diabetes;
-
underactive thyroid;
-
kidney disease; or
-
a muscle disorder.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take this medication.
FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects.
Do not
use
fluvastatin if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant
during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication.
It is not known whether fluvastatin passes into breast milk. Do not take fluvastatin
without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Fluvastatin is not for use in children younger than 10 years of age.
How should I take fluvastatin?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label.
Take fluvastatin with a full glass of water.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is
specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause
too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Fluvastatin is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. If you take
fluvastatin several times daily, take it with meals. Follow your doctor's instructions.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on
a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits
to your doctor.
In rare cases, fluvastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of
skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you
have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark
colored urine.
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.
You may need to take fluvastatin on a long-term basis for the treatment of high
cholesterol.
Store fluvastatin at room temperature, protected from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose of fluvastatin?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip
the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about fluvastatin?
Your pharmacist has information about fluvastatin written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of fluvastatin?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using fluvastatin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious
side effects:
Less serious side effects may include:
-
mild stomach pain, gas, bloating, stomach upset, heartburn;
-
nausea;
-
constipation; or
-
diarrhea.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about fluvastatin?
In rare cases, fluvastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of
skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you
have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark
colored urine.
This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby.
Do not use if
you are pregnant.
Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you
become pregnant during treatment.
Do not take fluvastatin if you have liver disease, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Before taking fluvastatin, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, underactive thyroid,
kidney disease, a muscle disorder, or a blood disorder:
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 while taking fluvastatin. Alcohol can raise triglyceride levels,
and may also damage your liver while you are taking fluvastatin.
There are many other drugs that can interact with fluvastatin.
Tell
your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes
vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a
new medication without telling your doctor.
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 while taking fluvastatin. Alcohol can raise triglyceride levels,
and may also damage your liver while you are taking fluvastatin.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with fluvastatin and lead to potentially
dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or
decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
What other drugs will affect fluvastatin?
Many drugs can interact with fluvastatin. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if
you are using:
-
stomach acid reducers such as cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine
(Zantac), or omeprazole (Prilosec);
-
cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran);
-
danazol (Danocrine);
-
diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren);
-
glyburide (glibenclamide, DiaBeta, Micronase);
-
nefazodone (Serzone);
-
niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
-
phenytoin (Dilantin);
-
rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane);
-
gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate
(Tricor);
-
drugs that weaken your immune system such as cancer
medicine or steroids, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf), sirolimus (Rapamune),
tacrolimus (Prograf), and others;
-
amiodarone (Cordarone), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem,
Dilacor, Tiazac), or verapamil (Verelan, Calan, Isoptin);
-
erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, others), clarithromycin
(Biaxin), or telithromycin (Ketek);
-
an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox),
fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
-
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
-
HIV /AIDS medicine such as nelfinavir (Viracept) or
ritonavir (Norvir).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with fluvastatin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications
you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other
doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of fluvastatin?