Hypercholesterolemia is the medical term for high blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Higher than normal amounts of cholesterol in your blood can deposit on the walls of your arteries and can increase your risk of coronary artery disease. Statins are drugs that reduce cholesterol levels in your body by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which your liver needs to produce cholesterol.
Lovastatin
Lovastatin, or Mevacor, is a water-insoluble white crystalline powder that is converted into a water-soluble intermediate in your body. Your doctor will prescribe you lovastatin along with diet modifications to bring your cholesterol levels down. It is used specifically for lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. It is also used in the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemias, namely types II a and II b hypercholesterolemia.
Lovastatin Precautions
Lovastatin, along with other statins, causes rhabdomyolysis, manifested as muscle pain, weakness and an increase in creatine kinase levels in your blood. You should stop using lovastatin and consult your doctor immediately if you experience any unusual symptoms. Lovastatin may also cause acute allergic reactions, and you must get emergency medical help if you experience difficulty breathing or develop rashes or swelling of your lips, face or tongue after taking lovastatin.
Fluvastatin
Fluvastatin, or Lescol, is a pale yellow to white water-soluble powder. In addition to lowering total and LDL cholesterol, fluvastatin also lowers Apo B and triglyceride levels in your blood. It also increases your HDL cholesterol levels, which is good, since HDL cholesterol helps to flush the sticky LDL cholesterol through your system. Your doctor will prescribe statins for you only if dietary restrictions and exercise have proven ineffective in lowering your blood lipid levels.
Fluvastatin Precautions
Fluvastatin can cause the same side effects as lovastatin. You may experience mild nausea, stomachaches, gas, bloating, heartburn, constipation or diarrhea as you start statin therapy. However, these symptoms typically resolve soon.
Comparison of Efficacy of Fluvastatin and Lovastatin
The efficacy of these two statins has been compared using atorvastatin, which has the highest efficacy, as the standard. According to a study published in "American Journal of Cardiology" in January 2004, fluvastatin has 33 percent of the efficacy of atorvastatin whereas lovastatin is 60 percent as effective as atorvastatin in lowering LDL cholesterol levels. This means that you need a lower dose of lovastatin as compared to fluvastatin to decrease your blood cholesterol levels by a specific amount. However, your physician will assess other factors, such as your tolerance and compliance, before prescribing a specific statin for you.
References
- RxList: Mevacor Drug Description
- RxList: Lescol Drug Description
- "American Journal of Cardiology"; Comparisons of effects of statins (atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin) on fasting and postprandial lipoproteins in patients with coronary heart disease versus control subjects; Ernst J. Schaefer, et al; January 2004
- University of Maryland Medical Center : Hypercholesterolemia
