Fluvastatin

Before starting fluvastatin, you should be following a cholesterol-lowering diet. If appropriate, your health care professionals will discuss an individualized program of weight control and physical exercise with you.

The starting dose of fluvastatin for adults depends on the LDL-C level and goal of treatment.

The recommended adult dose of fluvastatin ranges from 20 mg to 80 mg daily. Up to 60 mg daily can be taken as one dose in the evening or at bedtime. The 80 mg daily dose can be taken as one 40 mg capsule twice daily, with or after meals, or as one 80 mg extended-release capsule taken once daily. (The extended-release capsule may be taken at any time of day, but should be taken at the same time every day.)

The recommended dose of fluvastatin to prevent heart attack after angioplasty is 40 mg taken twice a day.

Children 10 years of age and older should be following a cholesterol-lowering diet for 6 months before starting fluvastatin. The recommended starting dose for children and adolescents is 20 mg taken once daily. If necessary, the dose may be gradually increased to 80 mg daily.

Fluvastatin may be taken with or without food, but it should be taken consistently with regard to food (always with food or always without food).

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

For best results in lowering cholesterol, it is important that you closely follow the diet suggested by your doctor. Fluvastatin may not change how you feel, but it may help to prevent possible health problems in the future.

It is important to take Fluvastatin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Fluvastatin at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause headaches; it may cause diarrhea; it may cause stomach ache; it may cause indigestion; it may cause muscle pain; it may make your skin more sensitive to UV rays (e.g., sunlight, tanning lamps) - avoid exposure to UV rays as much as possible and protect yourself when out in the sun. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

Fluvastatin is no longer being manufactured for sale in Canada. For brands that may still be available, search under fluvastatin. This article is being kept available for reference purposes only. If you are using Fluvastatin, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for information about your treatment options.

Do not take Fluvastatin if you:

• are allergic to fluvastatin or any ingredients of the medication
• are breast-feeding
• are pregnant
• have active liver disease or unexplained increases in liver function tests

Do not give Fluvastatin to children under 9 years of age.

There may be an interaction between fluvastatin and any of the following:

• alcohol
• atazanavir
• Cholestyramine
• Cimetidine
• Cobicistat
• Colchicine
• Colestipol
• Cyclosporine
• Cyproterone
• Dapsone
• Digoxin
• Eltrombopag
• etravirine
• fibrates (e.g., Bezafibrate, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil)
• fluconazole
• Hepatitis C antiviral medications (e.g., asunaprevir, daclatasvir, ledipasvir, sofosbuvir)
• mifepristone
• niacin
• niacinamide
• Phenytoin
• proton pump inhibitors (e.g., Lansoprazole, Omeprazole)
• Ranitidine
• Repaglinide
• rifampin
• rifabutin
• Spironolactone
• Teriflunomide
• Tolvaptan
• trabectedin
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Fluvastatin. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take Fluvastatin.

Alcohol: People who drink large quantities of alcohol should be closely monitored by their doctor while they are taking Fluvastatin.

Diabetes: Fluvastatin, like other medications in this class, may cause a loss of blood glucose control, and glucose tolerance may change. People with diabetes may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar more frequently while using Fluvastatin.

If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, discuss with your doctor how Fluvastatin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Fluvastatin, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms of increased blood sugar, such as increased thirst, need to urinate more often or a fruity odour to your breath, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Kidney Disease: There is little experience with the use of fluvastatin by people with severe kidney disease. It is currently not recommended for people with severely decreased kidney function.

Liver effects: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Fluvastatin to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Fluvastatin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Fluvastatin, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Fluvastatin.

Fluvastatin may also cause liver damage or liver failure. If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Muscle effects: In rare cases, serious muscle damage has been associated with the use of statin medications (i.e., cholesterol-lowering drugs whose names end in "statin," such as Atorvastatin, fluvastatin, Lovastatin, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin, or Simvastatin), especially at higher doses. Before taking Fluvastatin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• are over the age of 70
• are frail
• are taking other cholesterol-lowering medications such as fibrates (Gemfibrozil, Fenofibrate) or Niacin
• are taking other medications, including prescription, non-prescription, and natural health products, as drug interactions are possible
• do large amounts of physical exercise
• have very Low Blood Pressure
• have a severe metabolic, endocrine, or electrolyte disorders
• have sepsis (blood infection)
• have uncontrolled Epilepsy
• have a family history of muscular disorders
• have diabetes
• have had any past problems with the muscles (pain, tenderness) after taking a statin
• have kidney or liver problems
• have Thyroid problems
• have undergone surgery or other tissue injury
• regularly drink 3 or more alcoholic drinks daily

Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps, or any brown or discoloured urine to your doctor immediately, particularly if you are also experiencing malaise (a general feeling of being unwell) or fever.

Pregnancy: Fluvastatin should not be taken by pregnant women. If you become pregnant while taking fluvastatin, stop taking the medication immediately and contact your doctor.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if fluvastatin passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Fluvastatin, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of Fluvastatin have not been established for children less than 10 years old.

Seniors: If you are older than 70 years of age, your doctor will likely monitor you closely for muscle-related side effects.

This medication is typically used only once a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. It must be used regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Be sure to keep an adequate supply on hand. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember -- unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose. Do not double the next dose to catch up. The capsule of this medication should not be opened, crushed or chewed. This medication may be taken with or without food. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption during treatment.