Fluvastatin

Fluvastatin is used together with lifestyle changes (diet, weight-loss, exercise) to reduce the amount of cholesterol (a fat-like substance) and certain other 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. Buildup of cholesterol and other 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 other fats may help to decrease your chances of getting heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attacks. In addition to taking a cholesterol-lowering medication, making certain changes in your daily habits can also lower your cholesterol blood levels. You should eat a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol (see SPECIAL DIETARY), exercise 30 minutes on most, if not all days, and lose weight if you are overweight.

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. Take fluvastatin at around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take fluvastatin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the extended-release tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of fluvastatin and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 4 weeks. Continue to take fluvastatin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking fluvastatin without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Fluvastatin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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headache</li>
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heartburn</li>
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difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep</li>
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sinus pain</li>
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cough</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

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muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness</li>
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lack of energy</li>
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fever</li>
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yellowing of the skin or eyes</li>
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pain in the upper right part of the stomach</li>
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nausea</li>
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extreme tiredness </li>
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unusual bleeding or bruising </li>
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loss of appetite</li>
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flu-like symptoms</li>
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rash</li>
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hives</li>
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itching</li>
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difficulty breathing or swallowing</li>
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swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs</li>
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hoarseness</li>
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pain during urination</li>
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frequent urge to urinate</li></ul>Fluvastatin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking fluvastatin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fluvastatin or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin; cimetidine (Tagamet); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren); digoxin (Lanoxin); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); 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. if you are taking cholestyramine (Questran), take it at least 4 hours before fluvastatin. tell your doctor if you have liver disease. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take fluvastatin. tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol and if you have ever had liver or have or ever had diabetes or thyroid or kidney disease. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking fluvastatin. ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking fluvastatin. Alcohol can increase the risk of serious side effects.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.