Lescol, Lescol XL

Generic name: Fluvastatin sodium

What is Lescol, Lescol XL?

Lescol and Lescol XL (an extended-release form) are medications called statins that are used to lower cholesterol. They lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. They can raise your HDL (good) cholesterol as well. Lescol and Lescol XL are for people whose cholesterol has not come down enough with exercise and a low-fat diet alone.

Lescol and Lescol XL may also be used in people with heart disease (coronary artery disease) to slow the buildup of too much cholesterol in the arteries of the heart, and therefore lower the chances of needing procedures to help restore blood flow to the heart.

Lescol and Lescol XL are also prescribed for adolescents who have a hereditary form of high cholesterol and have not been able to lower it with exercise and a low-fat diet alone.

What is the most important information I should know about Lescol, Lescol XL?

Treatment with Lescol or Lescol XL has not been shown to prevent heart attacks or stroke.

Taking Lescol or Lescol XL is not a substitute for following a healthy low-fat and low-cholesterol diet and exercising to lower your cholesterol. Follow the diet and exercise program given to you by your health care provider.

Do not take this drug if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or planning to become pregnant. Women who may become pregnant should use effective birth control while taking Lescol or Lescol XR. Check with your doctor if you have questions about using birth control.

Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to this drug, as it may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines.

Drinking alcohol daily or in large amounts may increase the risk of liver problems with Lescol. Check with your doctor before drinking alcohol while you are taking Lescol.

Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Lescol before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.

Do not take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.

Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to your doctor right away, especially if you also have a fever or general body discomfort.

Who should not take Lescol, Lescol XL?

Do not take Lescol or Lescol XL if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant, since this medication may harm an unborn baby. Likewise, do not take Lescol or Lescol XL if you are breastfeeding, as it can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby.

Do not take Lescol or Lescol XL if you have liver problems or if you are allergic to the medication or any of its ingredients.

What should I tell my doctor before I take the first dose of Lescol, Lescol XL?

Tell your doctor about all prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications you are taking before beginning treatment with Lescol or Lescol XL. Also, talk to your doctor about your complete medical history, especially if you have low blood pressure, a serious infection, have recently undergone major surgery or had a serious injury, a history of seizures, chronic muscle aches or weakness; diabetes; or problems with your thyroid, kidneys, or liver. Also let the doctor know if you drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol daily.

Let your doctor know if you cannot swallow tablets whole. You may need Lescol capsules or a different medicine instead of Lescol XL tablets.

What is the usual dosage?

The information below is based on the dosage guidelines your doctor uses. Depending on your condition and medical history, your doctor may prescribe a different regimen. Do not change the dosage or stop taking your medication without your doctor's approval.

Lescol and Lescol XL have the same active ingredient. However, Lescol is a capsule that is taken 1 or 2 times a day and Lescol XL is an extended-release tablet that is taken once a day.

Adults: The recommended starting dose is dependent on your individual LDL cholesterol goal. If your goal requires more than a 25% reduction, the recommended starting dose is 40 milligrams (mg) once or twice daily (Lescol) and 80 mg once daily (Lescol XL). If your LDL goal requires less than a 25% reduction, a starting dose of 20 mg daily may be used.

Kidney impairment: Fluvastatin has not been studied at doses greater than 40 mg in patients with severe kidney impairment; therefore caution should be exercised when treating such patients at higher doses.

Adolescents 10 to 16 years: The recommended starting dose is one 20-mg Lescol capsule. The doctor will adjust the dose as needed, usually every 6 weeks, up to a maximum of 80 mg a day. The maximum dose can be taken either as one 40-mg Lescol capsule twice a day (morning and evening), or as a single 80-mg Lescol XL tablet taken in the evening.

Adolescent girls must have been menstruating for at least 1 year before taking Lescol or Lescol XL.

How should I take Lescol, Lescol XL?

Your doctor will likely start you on a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet and exercise plan before giving you Lescol or Lescol XL. Stay on this diet and exercise plan while taking the medication. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels during treatment with Lescol or Lescol XL. Your dose may be changed based on these blood test results.

Take Lescol capsules or Lescol XL tablets at the same time every evening. Sometimes Lescol capsules are also taken every morning. Both medications should be swallowed whole with liquid, and they can be taken with or without food. Do not break, crush, or chew Lescol XL tablets or open Lescol capsules.

If you are taking a Lescol in addition to a bile acid resin (such as cholestyramine), Lescol should be administered at bedtime, at least 2 hours following the resin to avoid a significant interaction due to drug binding to resin.

Continue to take Lescol even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.

What should I avoid while taking Lescol, Lescol XL?

Avoid getting pregnant or taking the medication while breastfeeding. If you do get pregnant, stop taking Lescol or Lescol XL right away and call your doctor.

Avoid missing any doses. Keep taking the medicine even if you feel well.

Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to Lescol; this drug may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines.

Avoid excessive alcohol use. Drinking daily or in large amounts may increase the risk of liver problems with Lescol. Check with your doctor before drinking alcohol while you are taking Lescol.

What are possible food and drug interactions associated with Lescol, Lescol XL?

If Lescol or Lescol XL is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining either of these drugs with the following: blood thinners such as warfarin, cholestyramine, cimetidine, cyclosporine, diclofenac, digoxin, erythromycin, fibrates, fluconazole, gemfibrozil, glyburide, niacin, omeprazole, phenytoin, ranitidine, and rifampin .

In addition, tell your doctor if you take medicines for any of the following: your immune system, cholesterol, infections, heart failure, seizures, diabetes, and heartburn or stomach ulcers.

What are the possible side effects of Lescol, Lescol XL?

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, tell your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking this drug.

Side effects may include: diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, headaches, muscle pain, sinus infection, stomach pain, stomach upset, tiredness, trouble sleeping

When taking Lescol or Lescol XL, some people may develop more serious side effects, such as severe muscle problems that can sometimes lead to kidney problems, including kidney failure. You have a higher chance for developing muscle problems if you are taking certain other medicines with Lescol or Lescol XL. Another serious side effect is liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking Lescol or Lescol XL, and periodically during treatment.

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: muscle problems like weakness, tenderness, or pain that happen without a good reason; especially if you also have a fever or feel more tired than usual; nausea and vomiting; passing brown or dark-colored urine; feeling more tired than usual; your skin and the whites of your eyes are yellow; stomach pain

Can I receive Lescol, Lescol XL if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

Do not use Lescol if you are pregnant, it may cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. Do not breastfeed while you are taking Lescol; this drug is found in breast milk.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Lescol, Lescol XL?

If you miss a dose of Lescol or Lescol XL, take it as soon as you remember. If it has been more than 12 hours since your last dose, wait and take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses of Lescol or Lescol XL at the same time.

How should I store Lescol, Lescol XL?

Store at room temperature and protect from light.