LESCOL
Generic Name: fluvastatin (FLEW va stah tin) Brand Names: Lescol, Lescol XL Fluvastatin (Lescol®, Canef®) is a member of the drug class of statins, used to treat hypercholesterolemia and to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Lescol comes as a capsule and an extended-release (long-acting) tablet to take by mouth. The capsule is usually taken with or without food once a day at bedtime or twice a day. The extended-release tablet is usually taken once a day at bedtime with or without food. To help you remember to take Lescol, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Lescol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the extended-release tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of Lescol and gradually increase your dose. Continue to take Lescol even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Lescol without talking to your doctor. Lescol is usually prescribed only if diet, exercise, and weight loss fail to bring your cholesterol levels under control. It's important to remember that Lescol is a supplement--not a substitute--for those other measures. To get the full benefit of the medication, you need to stick to the diet and exercise program prescribed by your doctor. All these efforts to keep your cholesterol levels normal are important because together they may lower your risk of heart disease.  Lescol reduces "bad" LDL cholesterol--and increases "good" HDL cholesterol--in the blood, and can lower your chances of developing clogged arteries and heart disease. It is also prescribed to slow the accumulation of plaque in the arteries of people who already have coronary heart disease, and may be prescribed for you when you are released from the hospital after a heart attack. Your doctor will prescribe the drug only if you have been unable to reduce your blood cholesterol level sufficiently with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet alone. For people at high risk of heart disease, current guidelines call for considering drug therapy when LDL levels reach 130. For people at lower risk, the cut-off is 160. For those at little or no risk, it's 190. |
|||||||||||||
|
More Sites:
Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of Lescol and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems. If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Lescol and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediatelyan allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased urine or rust-colored urine; blurred vision. Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Lescol and talk to your doctor if you : gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea; cough; headache; insomnia. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. Do not take Lescol without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicinescyclosporine (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). You may not be able to take Lescol, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above. Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Lescol. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products. Because Lescol may damage the liver, your doctor may order a blood test to check your liver enzyme levels before you start taking this medication. Blood tests will probably be done 12 weeks after you start Lescol therapy, whenever your dose is increased, and periodically after that. If your liver enzymes rise too high, your doctor may tell you to stop taking Lescol. Your doctor will monitor you especially closely if you have ever had liver disease or if you are, or have ever been, a heavy drinker. Since Lescol may cause damage to muscle tissue, be sure to tell your doctor of any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness right away, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. Your doctor may want to do a blood test to check for signs of muscle damage. If your blood test shows signs of muscle damage, your doctor may suggest discontinuing this medication. If your risk of muscle and/or kidney damage suddenly increases because of major surgery or injury, or conditions such as low blood pressure, severe infection, or seizures, your doctor may tell you to stop taking Lescol for a while. Keep Lescol in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication. n vitro data indicate that fluvastatin metabolism involves multiple Cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes. CYP2C9 isoenzyme is primarily involved in the metabolism of fluvastatin (~75%), while CYP2C8 and CYP3A4 isoenzymes are involved to a much less extent, i.e. ~5% and ~20%, respectively. If one pathway is inhibited in the elimination process of fluvastatin other pathways may compensate. In vivo drug interaction studies with CYP3A4 inhibitors/substrates such as cyclosporine, erythromycin, and itraconazle result in minimal changes in the pharmacokinetics of fluvastatin, confirming less involvement of CYP3A4 isozyme. Concomitant administration of fluvastatin and phenytoin increased the levels of phenytoin and fluvastatin, suggesting predominant involvement of CYP2C9 in fluvastatin metabolism.
Add your comment here: 1
ÕâÑù zzz wo abc 163Öá³ÐÍø a C
See other weight loss pills adipex gemfi ozil ionamin lescol lopid meridia orlistat phentermine pravachol tenuate xenical Directory | Popular Drug Information The product names used in this web site are for identification purposes only.
The information cannot be relied on to make diagnoses or prescribe treatment in any individual. Before using consult with a licensed professional. Last update:
Copyright © 2006 Popular Drug Information | |||||||||||||
