Lescol

Pronounced: LESS-cahl
Generic name: Fluvastatin sodium

Why is Lescol prescribed?

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.

Also, if you have coronary heart disease you may be prescribed Lescol to reduce the risk of undergoing coronary revascularization procedures (angioplasty, bypass surgery, or stent insertion).

Your doctor will prescribe Lescol 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.

Most important fact about Lescol

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.

How should you take Lescol?

Lescol is available in standard capsules and extended-release tablets (Lescol XL).

If you are taking standard Lescol capsules and you've been prescribed a small, single dose per day, take it at bedtime. A large dosage (80 milligrams) may be divided into 2 smaller doses and taken twice a day.

Lescol XL tablets should be taken once a day at bedtime. The tablets should be swallowed whole, never crushed or chewed. You may take Lescol with or without food.