Lescol

Generic name: Fluvastatin Sodium
Brand name: Lescol

Indications

Lescol is indicated for the treatment of:

• High blood cholesterol levels (primary hypercholesterolaemia).
• Abnormal levels of fats in the blood, eg high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides (mixed dyslipidaemia).
• Slowing down hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in people who already have coronary heart disease associated with high cholesterol.
• Preventing further heart problems in people with coronary heart disease who have had a a surgical procedure carried out on the heart through the skin (eg balloon dilation of an artery).

Dosage and Administration

Lescol is supplied as capsules containing fluvastatin sodium, equivalent to 20 mg or 40 mg of fluvastatin, for oral administration. Lescol (fluvastatin sodium) is supplied as extended-release tablets containing fluvastatin sodium, equivalent to 80 mg of fluvastatin, for oral administration.

Normal dosage:
The patient should be placed on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet before receiving Lescol (fluvastatin sodium) and should continue on this diet during treatment with Lescol.
For patients requiring LDL-C reduction to a goal of > 25%, the recommended starting dose is 40 mg as one capsule in the evening, 80 mg as one Lescol tablet administered as a single dose at any time of the day or 80 mg in divided doses of the 40 mg capsule given twice daily. For patients requiring LDL-C reduction to a goal of < 25% a starting dose of 20 mg may be used. The recommended dosing range is 20-80 mg/day. Lescol may be taken without regard to meals, since there are no apparent differences in the lipid-lowering effects of fluvastatin sodium administered with the evening meal or 4 hours after the evening meal. Do not break, crush or chew Lescol XL tablets or open Lescol capsules prior to administration.

Overdose: Overdose symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion.

 

Drug Description

Lescol (fluvastatin sodium), is a water-soluble cholesterol lowering agent which acts through the inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase.
Fluvastatin sodium is [R*,S*-(E)]-(±)-7-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(1-methylethyl)-1H-indol-2-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoic acid, monosodium salt. The empirical formula of fluvastatin sodium is C24H25FNO4•Na, its molecular weight is 433.46 and its structural formula is:

Side Effects

The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Abdominal pain.
• Indigestion (dyspepsia).
• Nausea.
• Headache.
• Skin reactions such as rash and itch.
• Muscle pain and weakness.
• Alteration in results of liver function tests.
• Pins and needles (paraesthesia).
• Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
• Muscle inflammation.
• Muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis).
• Depression.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Memory loss.
• Sexual problems.

Precautions

• Avoid eating food that is high in fat or cholesterol. Lescol will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Lescol. Alcohol can raise triglyceride levels, and may also damage your liver during treatment.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Lescol and lead to potentially dangerous effects.
• This drug belongs to the  FDA pregnancy category X. This means that this medication is known to cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy.
• Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.

 

Drug Interactions

Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor)
• niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others)
• erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin)
• cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
• warfarin (Coumadin)

Accolate
Accupril
Aciphex
Actonel
Actos
Advair
Agenerase
Alesse
Allegra D
Altace
Amaryl
Ansaid
Arava
Atrovent
Avandamet
Avandia
Avapro
Azopt
Baclofen
Benoxyl
Betagan
Betaxolol
Boniva
Bumex
BuSpar
Cafergot
Captopril
Cardizem
Cardura
Casodex
Celebrex
Celexa
Cellcept
Cialis
Cimetidine
Cipro
Claritin
Cotazym
Cozaar
Daypro
Depen
Detrol
Diovan
Doxepin
Effexor
Elavil
Eltroxin
Etidronate
Evista
Exelon
Famotidine
Famvir
Feldene
Femara
Fenofibrate
Flexeril
Flomax
Flonase
Florinef
Floxin
Fosamax
Gabapentin
Glyburide
Gonal
Halog
Humatin
Hydralazine

Hydrea
Hytrin
Hyzaar
Imdur
Imipramine
Imitrex
Isoptin
Keppra
Ketorolac
Labetalol
Lamictal
Lamisil
Lanoxin
Lescol
Levitra
Levsin
Lipitor
Lopid
Lotensi
Macrobid
Maxalt
Metformin
Metoprolol
Mevacor
Minocin
Naproxen
Nexium
Norvasc
Paroxetine
Pentasa
Permax
Plaquenil
Plavix
Plendil
Pravachol
Prazosin
Premarin
Prevacid
Prinivil
Procan
Propanolol
Propecia
Protonix
Questran
Quibron
Qvar
Razadyne
Relafen
Remeron
Requip
Rifadin
Rythmol
Septra
Singulair
Synthroid
Tambocor
Tazorac
Topamax
Vasotec
Viagra
Wellburtin
Xenical
Yohimbine
Zestril
Zetia
Zocor
Zoloft