fluvastatin sodium at a glance
Medicine class
Statin; an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
Main roles
Lowering raised cholesterol and preventing further cardiac events after coronary intervention
Food
May be taken with or without food
Administration
Swallow capsules and prolonged-release tablets whole with water
What is fluvastatin sodium used for?
The selected UK products are licensed for:
Primary hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia in adults, alongside diet when lifestyle measures have not been sufficient.
Prevention of further major cardiac events in adults with coronary heart disease following a percutaneous coronary intervention.
How does fluvastatin sodium work?
Fluvastatin blocks HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in making cholesterol. This increases liver LDL receptors, which remove more LDL cholesterol from the blood.
fluvastatin sodium preparations and strengths
Capsule
Route: Oral
Strengths: 20 mg
Modified-release tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 80 mg
How to take fluvastatin sodium
Follow the dispensing label and continue the cholesterol-lowering diet recommended by the prescriber.
Take with or without food.
Swallow the capsule or prolonged-release tablet whole with a glass of water.
fluvastatin sodium side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Nausea or indigestion
- Abdominal discomfort or pain
- Raised liver enzymes or creatine kinase on blood tests
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial swelling or breathing difficulty
- Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, which can rarely indicate serious muscle injury
- Jaundice, dark urine or other symptoms of liver injury
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Severe upper-abdominal pain that may indicate pancreatitis
- New or worsening marked muscle weakness, swallowing difficulty, drooping eyelids or breathlessness
fluvastatin sodium in pregnancy
The selected UK products are contraindicated during pregnancy. Anyone planning pregnancy should discuss treatment with their prescriber. If pregnancy occurs during treatment, stop taking it and arrange an early clinical review. Inadvertent exposure does not usually require additional fetal monitoring beyond routine antenatal care.
fluvastatin sodium while breastfeeding
Fluvastatin sodium is contraindicated while breastfeeding because transfer into human milk is expected and its effects on infants are uncertain. Discuss alternative feeding or lipid-lowering options with a specialist or prescriber.
fluvastatin sodium interactions
Check all prescribed, non-prescription and herbal products with a pharmacist or prescriber. Important examples include:
Systemic fusidic acid
Combining it with fluvastatin can cause severe muscle injury.
Fibrates or nicotinic acid
Concurrent use can increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.
Common questions about fluvastatin sodium
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is fluvastatin sodium used for?
It treats primary hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia in adults and can help prevent further cardiac events after coronary intervention in adults with coronary heart disease.
Can it be taken with food?
Yes. The selected capsules and prolonged-release tablets may be taken with or without food.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.