Lescol

fluvastatin sodium

Lescol, Lescol XL

Pharmacologic class: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor

Therapeutic class: Antihyperlipidemic

Pregnancy risk category X

Action

Competitively inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme needed to synthesize cholesterol. This inhibition reduces cholesterol concentration in hepatic cells, which in turn increases synthesis of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors, enhances LDL uptake, and ultimately reduces plasma cholesterol concentration.

Availability

Capsules: 20 mg, 40 mg

Tablets (extended-release): 80 mg

Indications and dosages

➣ Adjunctive therapy to diet to reduce elevated total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, apolipoprotein B (Apo B), and triglyceride levels; to increase HDL-C in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia; to reduce risk of undergoing revascularization procedures in patients with clinically evident coronary heart disease (CHD); to slow progression of atherosclerosis in patients with CHD

Adults: Initially, 40 mg (capsule) P.O. in evening or b.i.d. Don't give two 40-mg capsules at one time. Or, 80 mg (extended-release tablet) P.O. as a single dose at any time of day.

➣ Adjunctive therapy to diet to reduce elevated TC, LDL-C, and Apo B levels in boys and postmenarchal girls with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia after failing adequate trial of diet therapy

Children ages 10 to 16: Initially, 20 mg (capsule) P.O. May increase dosage to maximum daily dose: 40 mg (capsule) P.O. b.i.d. or one 80-mg extended-release tablet once daily at 6-week intervals. Individualize dosages according to goal of therapy.

Dosage adjustment

• Concurrent use of cyclosporine, fluconazole, or lipid-modifying doses (1 g/day or greater) of niacin

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to drug or its components

• Active hepatic disease or unexplained, persistent serum transaminase elevations

• Patients who are pregnant or may become pregnant

• Breastfeeding patients

Precautions

Use cautiously in:

• severe renal impairment, history of liver disease or heavy alcohol use, uncontrolled hypothyroidism

• concurrent use of gemfibrozil (avoid use)

• concurrent use of cyclosporine, other fibrates, drugs that may decrease levels of endogenous steroid hormones (such as ketoconazole, spironolactone, cimetidine)

• elderly patients (advanced age a predisposing factor for myopathy)

• children younger than age 9 (safety not established).

Administration

• Know that before starting drug, patient should be on standard cholesterol-lowering diet and weight-control and physical exercise programs, if appropriate.

• Check liver enzyme test values before starting drug.

• Give with or without food.

• If patient is also receiving bile-acid resin, give fluvastatin at bedtime at least 4 hours after resin.

Adverse reactions

CNS: headache, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue

CV: syncope, hypertension, intermittent claudication, atrial fibrillation

EENT: sinusitis, nasopharyngitis

GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, dyspepsia, flatulence, abdominal pain, gastric disorder

GU: urinary tract infection, myoglobinuria, acute renal failure

Hepatic: abnormal liver function tests

hepatitis (rare), hepatic failure

Metabolic: hyperglycemia

Musculoskeletal: joint pain, arthritis, extremity pain, myalgia, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis

Respiratory: exertional dyspnea, bronchitis

Other: flulike symptoms, tooth disorder, accidental trauma, peripheral edema, allergic reaction

Interactions

Drug-drug. Cholestyramine: decreased fluvastatin blood level

Antifungals, erythromycin, colchicine, gemfibrozil and other fibrates, lipid-modifying doses of niacin, other HMG-CoA inhibitors: increased risk of myopathy

Cimetidine, diclofenac, omeprazole, ranitidine: increased fluvastatin blood level

Cyclosporine, fluconazole: increased fluvastatin exposure

Glyburide, phenytoin: increased blood levels of both drugs

Rifampin: increased fluvastatin metabolism, decreased blood level

Drug-diagnostic tests. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, fasting serum glucose, HbA1c: increased levels

Drug-behaviors. Alcohol use: increased risk of hepatotoxicity

Patient monitoring

• Watch for allergic reaction to drug.

See Assess for myositis. If patient has muscle pain, monitor CK level. Discontinue drug if myopathy is diagnosed or suspected.

• Monitor lipid levels and liver function test results, particularly in patients with history of liver disease or heavy alcohol use.

• Be aware that bleeding or increased prothrombin times have occurred in patients taking coumarin anticoagulants concurrently with other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Monitor prothrombin times closely in patients receiving warfarin-type anticoagulants when fluvastatin is initiated or dosage is changed. Watch for bleeding tendencies.

• In patients receiving phenytoin, or glyburide, closely monitor drug's effects on phenytoin or glyburide levels when fluvastatin is initiated or fluvastatin dosage is changed.

Patient teaching

• Instruct patient to take once-daily dosages in evening for best effect.

• Tell patient to take drug with or without food.

• Tell patient not to open capsules and not to break, crush, or chew extended-release tablets.

• Advise patient to maintain standard cholesterol-lowering diet and weight-control and physical exercise programs, as appropriate.

See Instruct patient to immediately report irregular heart beat, muscle aches or pains, yellowing of eyes or skin, or unusual tiredness.

See Teach patient how to recognize and report signs and symptoms of allergic response, renal dysfunction, or myopathy.

• Advise patient to notify prescriber if he drinks more than two glasses of alcohol daily.

• Advise women of childbearing age to use effective contraception and to stop drug immediately and notify prescriber if pregnancy occurs.

• Tell patient that full effect of drug may take up to 4 weeks.

• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs, tests, and behaviors mentioned above.

Lescol

(lĕs′kōl′) A trademark for the drug fluvastatin sodium.

Lescol®

Fluvastatin, see there.

Lescol

A brand name for FLUVASTATIN.

Lescol

Lescol

fluvastatin sodium

Action

Availability

Indications and dosages

Dosage adjustment

Contraindications

Precautions

Administration

Adverse reactions

Interactions

Patient monitoring

Patient teaching

Lescol

Lescol®

Lescol

Lescol

Synonyms for Lescol

noun least expensive statin drug (trade name Lescol)

Synonyms

Related Words