Fluvastatin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 31, 2025.

Applies to fluvastatin: oral capsule, oral tablet extended release.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. These may be symptoms of serious muscle problems, such as myopathy or immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM).

Check with your doctor right away if you have dark-colored urine, diarrhea, a fever, muscle cramps or spasms, muscle pain or stiffness, or feel very tired or weak. These could be symptoms of a muscle condition called rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to serious kidney problems.

Check with your doctor right away if you get a headache, stomach pain, vomiting, dark-colored urine, loss of appetite, weight loss, general feeling of tiredness or weakness, light-colored stools, upper right stomach pain, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of liver damage.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you use this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine if you have major surgery, a major injury, or you develop other serious health problems.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of fluvastatin

Along with its needed effects, fluvastatin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking fluvastatin:

Other side effects of fluvastatin

Some side effects of fluvastatin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to fluvastatin: oral capsule, oral tablet extended release.

General adverse events

The most frequently reported side effects were headache, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, nausea, and myalgia.^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Myalgia, arthritis, arthropathy, arthralgia, pain in extremity, back pain
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Muscular weakness, myopathy
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Rhabdomyolysis, myositis, lupus erythematosus-like syndrome
• Frequency not reported: Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy
• Postmarketing reports: Muscle cramps, muscle spasms^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): ALT increased, AST increased
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatitis
• Postmarketing reports: Chronic active hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, fatty change in liver, cirrhosis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, fatal hepatic failure, nonfatal hepatic failure, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase increased, bilirubin increased^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Dyspepsia, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, flatulence, tooth disorder, upper abdominal pain, constipation, gastric disorder
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Pancreatitis
• Postmarketing reports: Vomiting^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Rash
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Urticaria
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Angioedema, face edema, eczema, dermatitis, bullous exanthema
• Postmarketing reports: Bullous dermatitis, alopecia, pruritus, skin nodules, skin discoloration, dry skin/mucous membranes, hair/nails changed^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Upper respiratory tract infection (16.2%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Sinusitis, bronchitis, nasopharyngitis, exertional dyspnea, pharyngitis, rhinitis, cough^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Influenza-like symptoms, accidental trauma, fatigue, peripheral edema, blood transaminases increased, creatine phosphokinase increased
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chest pain
• Postmarketing reports: Vertigo, alkaline phosphatase increased^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness, syncope
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Paresthesia, dysesthesia, hypoesthesia
• Postmarketing reports: Tremor, peripheral nerve palsy, peripheral neuropathy, dysfunction of cranial nerve, alteration of taste, extra-ocular movement impaired, facial paresis, cognitive impairment, memory loss, forgetfulness, amnesia, memory impairment^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection
• Postmarketing reports: Erectile dysfunction, gynecomastia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Atrial fibrillation, hypertension, intermittent claudication
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Vasculitis^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Myoglobinuria, acute renal failure^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Allergy
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Anaphylactic reaction^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hypersensitivity reaction^[Ref]

An apparent hypersensitivity syndrome was reported rarely and included one or more of the following: anaphylaxis, angioedema, lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, vasculitis, purpura, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, positive antinuclear antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate increased, eosinophilia, arthritis, arthralgia, urticaria, asthenia, photosensitivity reaction, fever, chills, flushing, malaise, dyspnea, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Postmarketing reports: Hepatoma^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Postmarketing reports: Thyroid function abnormal^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia
• Postmarketing reports: Anxiety, depression, psychic disturbances, loss of libido, confusion^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: HbA1c increased, serum glucose increased
• Postmarketing reports: Anorexia^[Ref]

Ocular

• Postmarketing reports: Cataracts progressed, lens opacity, ophthalmoplegia^[Ref]

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• What are the side effects of statins?
• Do statins help treat COVID-19?

Further information

Fluvastatin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer