Pravastatin

Pravastatin Sodium

What Is Pravastatin?

Pravastatin (Pravachol^®) is a prescription medication used for treating a number of conditions related to heart disease.

These uses include but are not limited to:

Treatment of high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia).
Treatment of high triglycerides in the blood. Triglycerides are the main storage form of fat in the body.
Prevention of heart disease and heart-related problems.

It has also been approved for use in children ages 8 to 18 years old with a certain genetic condition that causes high cholesterol.

(Click What Is Pravastatin Used For? for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Are There Side Effects?

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with pravastatin.

However, not everyone who takes it will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate the drug well. If 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 taking the medicine.

The most common pravastatin side effects include:

Nausea and vomiting
Common cold
Headache
Diarrhea
Unexplained rash
Constipation
Muscle or joint pain (see Pravachol and Muscle Pain or Pravachol and Joint Pain).

Rare side effects include but are not limited to:

Muscle aches/weakness (see Pravachol and Muscle Aches)
Memory loss (see Pravachol and Memory Loss)
Increased liver enzymes (see Pravachol and Liver Problems).

Weight gain and depression are not known side effects of pravastatin (see Pravachol and Weight Gain and Pravachol and Depression).

Keep in mind that if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if they are accompanied by 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, including additional side effects you should report to your healthcare provider.)

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

Prior to taking pravastatin, you should tell your healthcare provider if you have:

Liver disease or liver failure
Kidney disease or kidney failure
A history of heart attack or stroke
Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.

Let your healthcare provider know if you:

Are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant (see Pravachol and Pregnancy)
Are breastfeeding (see Pravachol and 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 to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)

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:

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

Effects of Pravastatin

In research studies, people taking pravastatin 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 with higher doses.

When and How Do I Take It?

Some general considerations for when and how to take pravastatin include the following:

This medication is available in tablet form and is taken by mouth once daily. Unlike some other statins, pravastatin can be taken at any time during the day.
To maintain even levels of pravastatin in your blood, make sure to take it at the same time each day.
Pravastatin can be taken with or without food. If the medication bothers your stomach, try taking it with a little food.
For the medication to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed, Pravastatin will not work if you stop taking it.

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 program to lower cholesterol.

Dosing Information

The dose of pravastatin 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.)

Drug Interactions With Pravastatin

Pravastatin can potentially interact with several different medications (see Drug Interactions With Pravastatin to learn more).

Alternatives to the Medication

In general, cholesterol treatment begins with lifestyle changes (weight loss, exercise, and a low-cholesterol diet). If lifestyle changes alone 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 by taking it.

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. These substitutes could include other statins or other cholesterol medicines.

(Click Pravachol Alternatives to learn more.)

What If I Take an Overdose?

If you happen to overdose on pravastatin, seek immediate medical attention. It is not known what exactly to expect from an overdose (see Pravachol Overdose for more information).

Storage Methods for Pravastatin

Pravastatin should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture. Keep this 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. Do not take a double dose.

Who Makes It?

Brand-name pravastatin (sold as Pravachol) is made by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Generic pravastatin is sold by various manufacturers.

Strengths of Pravastatin

Pravastatin tablets are available in several strengths. These include:

Pravastatin 10 mg
Pravastatin 20 mg
Pravastatin 40 mg
Pravastatin 80 mg.

Generic Pravastatin

Pravastatin is currently available in generic form (see Generic Pravastatin for more information).