Fluvastatin belongs to group of medicines called as statins. It contains active fluvastatin (fluvastatin sodium). This medication helps reduce the lipids in the blood. It is prescribed to patients when diet and exercise alone cannot help control their cholesterol problem.
Fluvastatin is prescribed to patients with high blood levels of cholesterol as well as triglycerides. Those who are allergic to fluvastatin or any other ingredient in the drug should not take it.
This drug should be avoided by people allergic to soya or peanut. Those who have liver problems should not take Fluvastatin. This medicine is not recommended for pregnant and breast-feeding women. This is because the active ingredient can harm the fetus and it is not yet known it the drug is excreted in human breast milk. If you plan to get pregnant, speak to the doctor and stop the medication.
Those over 70 years should get the risk factors checked by their doctor before taking the drug. Children below 9 years of age should not be given this drug.
Inform the doctor is you are prescribed other medications before taking Fluvastatin:
● Ciclosporin
● Fibrates
● Fluconazole
● Phenytoin
● Rifampicin
● Glibenclamide
● Colchicines
Fluvastin can lead to side effects, which cannot occur in everybody. Some of the rare and very serious side effects includes:
● Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness. This can be a sign of muscle degradation.
● Yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes, dark colored urine indicating hepatitis
● Skin swelling, breathing problems, dizziness, etc. can be a sign of severe allergic reaction
● Unexplained and easy bruising or bleeding can be a sign of decreased platelet count
● Red blotchy rash on face along with fever, nausea, loss of appetite indicating lupus-erythematous-like reaction
The common side effects include:
● Difficulty sleeping
● Headache
● Stomach discomfort
● Abdominal pain
● Tingling or numbness of hands and feet
Fluvastin tablets need to be taken exactly as advised by the doctor. You need to swallow the table whole with water. Take the tablet with or without food. If you are asked to take Fluvastin once a day, then take the dose in the evening or at bedtime. If it is to be taken twice a day, then take one capsule in the morning and one in the evening or bedtime. The dose of adults is 20mg to 80mg per day. This dose depends on the amount of cholesterol in the blood. The dose is adjusted after 4 weeks or more. Children over 9 years of age are given 20mg per day as a starting dose. The maximum dose for children can be 80mg. The dose is adjusted after 6-weeks interval. If you have taken more than the recommended dose or someone else accidently takes Fluvatin, call the doctor immediately. In case you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose missed.
Fluvastin belongs to a class of medications called the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. It slows down the production of cholesterol in the body helping reduce its overall level in the blood.
