What Is Fluvastatin Used for?

Many people wonder, "What is fluvastatin used for?" Fluvastatin is used for treating conditions such as high cholesterol and high triglycerides. In people with existing heart disease, fluvastatin helps reduce the rate of atherosclerosis and decreases the odds of needing heart procedures such as open heart surgery. Fluvastatin is licensed to treat high cholesterol in adults and children (ages 10 to 16 years).

What Is Fluvastatin Used for? -- An Overview

Fluvastatin (Lescol®) and fluvastatin extended-release (Lescol® XL) are prescription medications that have been licensed to treat several conditions. These fluvastatin uses are as follows:
 

For people with heart disease, fluvastatin is used to:

 

  • Decrease the chances of needing a heart procedure, such as angioplasty or open heart surgery (known medically as coronary artery bypass graft surgery, or CABG)
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  • Decrease the rate of hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
    •    

How Does Fluvastatin Work?

Fluvastatin is part of a class of drugs called
 statins. Fluvastatin works by blocking a particular enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol and increases its ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol.
 
Because of the effects of fluvastatin, the following forms of cholesterol and fats are decreased:
 
Fluvastatin also increases HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol).
 
What Is Fluvastatin Used for? Article Continues on Next Page >
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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