Vascol (Fluvastatin)

Vascol (Fluvastatin) Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Vascol (Fluvastatin) acts by competitively inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme for cholesterol synthesis. It reduces total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL concentrations in plasma. It also increases HDL concentrations.

Vascol (Fluvastatin), the first synthetically-derived HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, is a hydrophilic, acidic, antilipemic agent used to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels associated with primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia (Fredrickson types IIa and IIb), to slow the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with CHD and as secondary prevention therapy in patients with CHD to reduce the risk of requiring coronary revascularization procedures. Although similar to lovastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin, fluvastatin has a shorter half-life, no active metabolites, extensive protein binding, and minimal CSF penetration. Vascol (Fluvastatin) acts primarily in the liver. It is prepared as a racemate of two erythro enantiomers of which the 3R,5S enantiomer exerts the pharmacologic effect.

Vascol (Fluvastatin)
Uses
Dosage
Side Effect
Precautions
Interactions
Uses during Pregnancy
Uses during Breastfeeding
Accute Overdose
Food Interaction
Half Life
Volume of Distribution
Clearance
Interaction With other Medicine
Contradiction
Storage

Trade Name	Vascol (Fluvastatin)
Availability	Prescription only
Generic	Fluvastatin
Fluvastatin Other Names	Fluvastatin, fluvastatina, fluvastatine, fluvastatinum
Related Drugs	Nexletol, Nexlizet, Zetia, Praluent, Repatha, atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, Lipitor, fenofibrate
Type
Formula	C₂₄H₂₆FNO₄
Weight	Average: 411.4659 Monoisotopic: 411.18458653
Protein binding	98% bound to plasma proteins. At therapeutic concentrations, the protein binding of fluvastatin is not affected by warfarin, salicylic acid and glyburide.
Groups	Approved
Therapeutic Class	Other Anti-anginal & Anti-ischaemic drugs, Statins
Manufacturer
Available Country	Portugal
Last Updated:	September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am

Uses

Therapy with lipid-altering agents should be only one component of multiple risk factor intervention in individuals at significantly increased risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease due to hypercholesterolemia. Drug therapy is used for an adjunct to diet when the response to a diet restricted in saturated fat and cholesterol and other non-pharmacologic measures alone has been inadequate.

Vascol (Fluvastatin) is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Atherosclerosis, Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Mixed Dyslipidemias, Primary Hypercholesterolemia, Revascularization procedures

How Vascol (Fluvastatin) works

Vascol (Fluvastatin) selectively and competitively inhibits the hepatic enzyme hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. HMG-CoA reductase is responsible for converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate, the rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. Inhibition results in a decrease in hepatic cholesterol levels which stimulates the synthesis of LDL receptors and increases hepatic uptake of LDL cholesterol. The end result is decreased levels of plasma total and LDL cholesterol.

Dosage

Vascol (Fluvastatin) dosage

Oral-Hyperlipidaemias:

Adult: Initially, 20-40 mg once daily in the evening, may increase at intervals of 4 wk to max 80 mg/day.
Child: Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: 9-16 yr 20 mg once daily. If necessary, may increase dose at 6-wkly intervals to 40 mg bid or 80 mg once daily as modified-release.

May be taken with or without food

Side Effects

Headache, nausea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, bronchitis, sinusitis, insomnia, fatigue, myopathy, myalgia and UTI. Increased blood creatinine phosphokinase and transaminase.

Toxicity

Generally well-tolerated. May cause gastrointestinal upset (diarrhea, nausea, constipation, gas, abdominal pain), myotoxicity (mypothy, myositis, rhabdomyolysis), and hepatotoxicity.

Precaution

History of liver disease and hereditary muscular disorders; high alcohol intake; patients who undergone major surgery and under immunosuppressive agents. Manage hypothyroidism prior to treatment. Severe renal impairment.

Interaction

Bleeding and increased prothrombin time with coumarin anticoagulants. May increase the risk of myopathy rhabdomyolysis with HIV protease inhibitors, colchicine, bezafibrate, ciprofibrate or niacin (nicotinic acid), ciclosporin and fluconazole. Reduced bioavailability with concomitant rifampicin.

Food Interaction

Take with or without food. Should be taken consistently in regards to meals.

Vascol (Fluvastatin) Alcohol interaction

[Moderate]

Concomitant use of statin medication with substantial quantities of alcohol may increase the risk of hepatic injury.

Transient increases in serum transaminases have been reported with statin use and while these increases generally resolve or improve with continued therapy or a brief interruption in therapy, there have been rare postmarketing reports of fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure in patients taking statins.

Patients who consume substantial quantities of alcohol and/or have a history of liver disease may be at increased risk for hepatic injury.

Active liver disease or unexplained transaminase elevations are contraindications to statin use.

Patients should be counseled to avoid substantial quantities of alcohol in combination with statin medications and clinicians should be aware of the increased risk for hepatotoxicity in these patients.

Vascol (Fluvastatin) Drug Interaction

Moderate: ezetimibe, ezetimibeUnknown: aspirin, aspirin, ubiquinone, ubiquinone, duloxetine, duloxetine, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, acetaminophen, acetaminophen, cyanocobalamin, cyanocobalamin, pyridoxine, pyridoxine, ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid, cholecalciferol, cholecalciferol

Vascol (Fluvastatin) Disease Interaction

Major: liver disease, rhabdomyolysisModerate: cognitive impairment, diabetes, renal disease

Volume of Distribution

0.35 L/kg

Elimination Route

Rapidly and almost completely absorbed (> 90%), but undergoes extensive first pass metabolism. Bioavailability is 24% (range 9-50%) when a 10 mg dose is given. The mean relative bioavailability of the extended-release tablet is 29% (range: 9% to 66%) compared to an immediate-release capsule administered under fasting conditions. When given orally, fluvastatin reaches peak concentrations (Tmax) in less than one hour. Taking the extended release tablet with a high-fat meal will delay absorption (Tmax = 6 hours) and increase bioavailability by approximately 50%. However, the maximum concentration of fluvastatin sodium extended-release tablets seen after a high fat meal is less than the peak concentration following a single dose or twice daily dose of the 40 mg fluvastatin capsule.

Half Life

3 hours

Clearance

0.8 L/h/kg
107 ± 38.1 L/h [Hypercholesterolemia patients receiving a single dose of 20 mg]
87.8 ± 45 L/h [Hypercholesterolemia patients receiving 20 mg twice daily]
108 ± 44.7 L/h [Hypercholesterolemia patients receiving 40 mg single]
64.2 ± 21.1 L/h [Hypercholesterolemia patients receiving 40 mg twice daily]

Elimination Route

When orally administered, fluvastatin is primarily excreted in the faces ( ~90%) as metabolites, with less than 2% present as unchanged drug. Approximately 5% was recovered in the urine.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Category X: Studies in animals or human beings have demonstrated foetal abnormalities or there is evidence of foetal risk based on human experience or both, and the risk of the use of the drug in pregnant women clearly outweighs any possible benefit. The drug is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant.

Contraindication

Acute liver disease or unexplained persistent elevation of serum aminotransferases. Pregnancy and lactation. Avoid admin of two 40 mg conventional cap at one time.