Lescol

Lescol is licensed for the treatment of high cholesterol and high triglycerides. In people with heart disease, the medication can also decrease the chances of needing a heart procedure (such as angioplasty or open heart surgery) and decrease the rate of cholesterol buildup on the arteries. It works by blocking a particular enzyme that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body.

Lescol Medication

What Is Lescol?

Lescol^® (fluvastatin sodium) and Lescol^® XL (fluvastatin extended-release) are prescription medications used for treating a number of conditions related to heart disease, including high cholesterol and high triglycerides. Lescol XL is a long-acting version of Lescol. In this article, when we refer to Lescol, we are talking about both Lescol and Lescol XL, unless otherwise specified.

(Click Lescol Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes It?

Lescol is manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

How Does Lescol Work?

Lescol is part of a class of drugs called statins. The medication 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. Lescol also:

Increases the liver's ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol")
Increases HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol")
Decreases triglycerides.

Clinical Effects

In research studies, people taking Lescol 40 mg once in the evening were able to, on average:

Decrease LDL cholesterol by 25 percent
Decrease total cholesterol by 19 percent
Decrease triglycerides by 14 percent
Increase HDL by 4 percent.

The effects of Lescol on cholesterol and triglyceride levels were generally greater with higher daily doses.

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