Pravastatin

Pravastatin is a medication that is licensed to treat high cholesterol and high triglycerides. Use of this drug can also help prevent heart disease and other heart-related problems. Pravastatin, which is a form of statin, works by blocking a particular enzyme that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. It has been approved for use in both adults and children ages 8 to 18 for the treatment of high cholesterol.

 

What Is Pravastatin?

Pravastatin is a prescription medication used for treating a number of conditions related to heart disease, including high cholesterol and high triglycerides. It is sold under the brand name Pravachol®. It is also available as a generic, sold as Pravastatin tablets ("pravastatin"). It is part of a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, which are more popularly known as statins.
 

Side Effects of Pravastatin

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with pravastatin.
 However, not everyone who takes it will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it well. When side effects occur, in most cases they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. If side effects do occur, most people do not need to stop their medicine.
 
The most common pravastatin side effects include:
 
Other side effects that occur less often include, but are not limited to:
 
Weight gain is not a known side effect of pravastatin (see Pravachol and Weight Gain).
 
Keep in mind that if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if they are with a fever or you feel ill, it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately. This could be a sign of a serious, life-threatening muscle problem.
 
(Click Pravastatin Side Effects to learn more about the specific side effects of this drug.)
 

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

Prior to taking pravastatin, you should tell your healthcare provider if you have:
 
Let your healthcare provider know if you:
 
  • Are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant (see Pravachol and Pregnancy)
  • Are breastfeeding
  • Will be undergoing a procedure or surgery
  • Drink alcohol frequently.
     
Also, tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you may be taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Precautions and Warnings of Pravastatin for more information on this topic, including information on who should not take pravastatin.)
 

What Is It Used For?

Pravastatin has been licensed for several uses, including:
 
Pravastatin has also been approved for use in children ages 8 to 18 for the treatment of high cholesterol.
 

How Does It Work?

Pravastatin is part of a class of drugs called statins. It 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. Pravastatin also:
 

Effects of Pravastatin

In previous research studies, people taking Pravastatin tablets 20 mg were able to, on average, decrease LDL cholesterol by 32 percent, total cholesterol by 24 percent, and triglycerides by 11 percent. HDL increased by 2 percent. The effects of pravastatin on cholesterol and triglyceride levels were generally greater for the higher doses of pravastatin.
 

When and How Do I Take It?

Some general considerations for when and how to take pravastatin include:
 
  • The medication can be taken at any time during the day.
     
  • To maintain even levels of pravastatin in your body, make sure to take it at the same time each day.
     
  • It can be taken with or without food.
     
  • Swallow your pravastatin with a drink of water. Do not break, chew, or crush the Pravastatin tablets.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed; it will not work if you stop taking it.
     
  • If you are taking a bile acid sequestrant, make sure to take your pravastatin more than one hour before the bile acid sequestrant or more than four hours after. Bile acid sequestrants include:

 

 

  • Do not adjust your pravastatin dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
     

Dietary Instructions

There are no dietary restrictions with pravastatin. As with any cholesterol medication, you should continue to eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet as part of your cholesterol-lowering treatment program.
 

Dosing Information

The dose of pravastatin that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • The medical condition being treated
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Dosing With Pravastatin for more information about pravastatin dosage guidelines.)
  

Drug Interactions With Pravastatin

Pravastatin has a number of medicines that it can potentially interact with.
 
(Click Drug Interactions With Pravastatin for more information about pravastatin and these other medicines.)
  

Alternatives

In general, cholesterol treatment begins with lifestyle changes (weight loss, exercise, and a low-cholesterol diet). If lifestyle changes do not lower cholesterol to a desirable level, cholesterol medication, such as pravastatin, may be necessary.
 
The main goal of high cholesterol medication is to lower LDL cholesterol levels enough to reduce your risk for developing problems related to high cholesterol, such as heart disease or a heart attack (see Effects of High Cholesterol). The higher your risk, the lower your LDL goal will be.
 
(Click High Cholesterol Risk to see a list of risk factors that may affect your cholesterol level, as well as a list of ideal LDL cholesterol levels.)
 
Because pravastatin can lower LDL cholesterol (along with lowering total cholesterol and increasing HDL), people can lower their risk for developing problems related to high cholesterol.
 
For most people, pravastatin is quite effective in lowering cholesterol. It is also generally well tolerated. However, side effects can occur, and people may wish to consider a substitute for pravastatin. These substitutes could include other statins or other cholesterol medicines.
 
(Click Pravachol Alternatives to learn more about substitutes for pravastatin.)
 

Overdose

If you happen to overdose on pravastatin, seek medical attention immediately.
 

Storage Methods for Pravastatin

Pravastatin should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture.
 
Keep pravastatin and all medications out of the reach of children.
 

What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?

If you do not take your pravastatin as scheduled, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. If it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the one you forgot and take your next dose instead. Never take a double dose!
 

Who Makes It?

Pravastatin is manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals.
 

Strengths

There are several strengths of pravastatin available. These include:
 
  • Pravastatin tablets 10 mg
  • Pravastatin tablets 20 mg
  • Pravastatin tablets 40 mg
  • Pravastatin tablets 80 mg.
     

Generic Pravastatin

Pravastatin tablets is the generic form of pravastatin sodium (Pravachol).
 
(For more specific information, click Generic Pravastatin.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;