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| Fluvastatin |
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Review
Summary |
 Many of us are faced with the fact that we have high cholesterol levels, and we have to decide which option is best for us. Some people opt to institute dietary changes, using a low-cholesterol, low-saturated-fat diet model. Others add in holistic supplements, such as Plant Sterols, whose results may be on par with some pharmaceutical-grade medications.
Yet, predominately, doctors suggest individuals begin some kind of cholesterol lowering medication. In fact, there are many different types of medications available; although statins seem to be the most popular. Fluvastatin is one of these medications, but it is actually the least potent of all the statins – yet it is still said to be useful in this arena, as well as being prescribed to address other conditions.
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| Medication at a Glance |
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Fluvastatin is actually the generic name for a drug that is most commonly marketed as Lescol, which was created by Novartis Corporation. As noted above, it is a member of a generation of cholesterol lowering drugs known as statins, which are often also called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
For the most part, Fluvastatin, or Lescol, is taken is taken orally, and the extended release tablets are most often prescribed by heath care providers. While this medication is most often prescribed for lowering cholesterol levels, in studies, Fluvastatin has been shown to reduce coronary heart disease events in individuals who have had percutaneous coronary intervention or balloon angioplasty.
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| Medication in Focus |
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As noted above, Fluvastatin is a statin, which works in the liver to reduce the production and formation of cholesterol. In general, Statins have been shown to be highly effective in lowering the LDL, or “bad” cholesterol levels, but they may have a rather modest impact on lowering triglycerides, which are also known as blood fats. They have also shown modest results in raising HDL, or “good” cholesterol levels.
They actually work by blocking HMG-CoA reductase, which is the enzyme the liver uses to produce cholesterol. This stimulates LDL receptors in the body in order to augment the clearance of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, from the bloodstream, thereby decreasing blood cholesterol levels.
In studies, Fluvastatin has been shown to lessen the progression of hardening of the arteries in those individuals who have heart disease, and who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol. Like most statins, this medication comes with a wide variety of possible side effects, which most health care providers suggest are mild and ease up over time, as a person’s body adjusts; although some other side effects may be severe and sometimes irreversible.
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| Lifestyle |
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It is reported those individuals who are taking Fluvastatin should avoid drinking grapefruit juice, because it interacts with statins, and may augment the level of the drug in their blood. Also, it is said individuals should avoid drinking alcohol, because it may result in liver damage; although this medication may create this issue in some people without the influence of alcohol as well.
Some people experience stomach upset, but there are also a variety of potentially severe side effects associated with this medication, such as dizziness, yellowing eyes and skin, dark urine, severe fatigue, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea and a change in the amount of urine produced. It is said these side effects should be reported to a health care provider ASAP. Also, it is important to note that this drug has occasionally caused muscle damage, which may actually cause a very serious, possibly grave, condition called rhabdomyolysis, which may be irreversible.
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| Positives |
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• May lower cholesterol
• May reduce coronary heart disease events in individuals who have had percutaneous coronary intervention or balloon angioplasty
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| Negatives |
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• Said to have many possible side effects
• Has occasionally caused severe muscle damage
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| Final Thoughts |
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Most often high blood LDL cholesterol levels are addressed through using lifestyle changes, such as exercise, weight loss and a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fats. However, medications such as Fluvastatin are also employed, especially if those lifestyle changes don’t provide the desired results. Fluvastatin is a pharmaceutical-grade medication that is prescribed by a health care provider, and due to its side effects, should be monitored closely.
Many people have expressed concern about using stains, and for this reason, they have investigated holistic alternatives. There are some supplements that have shown some really good results in clinical trials. For instance, Plant Sterols have been shown to effectively lower “bad” dietary cholesterol by 20-40% in some cases, while also increasing “good” cholesterol levels.
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| Our
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