Pravastatin
Description
Pravastatin is a lipid-lowering medicine that contains pravastatin. It is used to reduce the levels of bad cholesterol and fats (triglycerides) in your blood to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that forms in your blood vessels as plaques which reduces the free flow of blood and causes heart diseases. It reduces cholesterol by blocking an enzyme responsible for making cholesterol in your blood.
Pravastatin causes some side effects including headache, nausea, vomiting, throat infection, eye discolouration, diarrhoea and muscle pain. If these symptoms persist consult your doctor immediately. Avoid driving or any activity that requires concentration after taking this medicine because it may cause decreased alertness, dizziness and drowsiness. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to it.
Pravastatin can be taken with or without food as prescribed by your doctor. The dose and duration of this medicine are decided by your doctor based on your clinical condition. It is recommended to take this medicine at a fixed time to avoid the chances of missing a dose.
Pravastatin is not recommended for use in children under 8 years of age. This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Inform your doctor if you have liver or kidney diseases before taking this medicine. If you are diabetic your doctor may monitor your blood sugar levels while using this medicine, as it can cause an increase in blood sugar levels.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Pravastatin
- Difficulty with moving
- Muscle and joint pain
- Extreme tiredness
- Itching
- Rash
- Difficulty in breathing
- Sweating
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Dizziness
- Irritability
Uses of Pravastatin
What is it prescribed for?
- Hyperlipidaemia
- Hypertriglyceridemia
- Prevention of cardiovascular diseases
- Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionPravastatin starts showing its effects within 60-90 minutes after taking it.
- Duration of effectThe duration of action of Pravastatin is around 10 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women as it can harm the developing baby.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women as it may pass through the milk to affect the child
Allergy
Avoid taking Pravastatin if you are allergic to it.
Liver Disease
Pravastatin is not recommended for use in patients with active liver diseases or unexplained, persistent elevations in serum transaminases due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women as it can harm the developing baby.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women as it may pass through the milk to affect the child
General warnings
Cognitive impairment
Pravastatin may cause forgetfulness, memory loss, and confusion. Any such symptoms should be reported to the doctor immediately and therapy should be discontinued under your doctor's supervision. These symptoms usually go away once therapy with the medicine is discontinued.
Heavy alcohol consumption
Heavy alcohol consumption is contraindicated during treatment with this medicine due to the increased risk of serious adverse effects on the kidney and liver.
Increased blood sugar levels
Pravastatin may cause an increase in the blood glucose levels. This risk is especially higher in patients with diabetes mellitus. Close monitoring of blood glucose levels is recommended in patients receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments in either Pravastatin or the anti-diabetic medicines should be done based on the patient's clinical condition.
Missed Dose
If a dose of Pravastatin is missed, take the dose as soon as you remember it. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Erythromycin
Cyclosporine
Hydralazine
Fluvastatin
Disease interactions
Liver Disease
Pravastatin is not recommended for use in patients with active liver diseases due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. It should be used with extreme caution in patients with a history of liver diseases. Close monitoring of liver function is necessary for such patients. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative should be done based on the patient's clinical condition.
Rhabdomyolysis
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients with a known history of any muscle disorder due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Any symptoms of muscle pain or weakness should be reported to the doctor on priority. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Cognitive Impairment
Pravastatin should be used with caution due to an increased risk of side effects such as memory loss, forgetfulness, or confusion. Any such symptoms should be reported to the doctor immediately and therapy should be discontinued under your doctor's supervision. The symptoms usually go away once therapy with the medicine is discontinued.
Diabetes Mellitus
Pravastatin should be used with caution in patients with diabetes mellitus due to the increased risk of elevated blood glucose levels. Close monitoring of blood glucose levels is necessary for such patients. Appropriate dose adjustments in either Pravastatin or the anti-diabetic medicines should be done based on the patient's clinical condition.
Renal Dysfunction
Pravastatin should be used with caution in patients with a known history of renal diseases due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of renal function is necessary for such patients. A suitable dose adjustment might be required based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Pravastatin should be taken exactly as instructed by the doctor. It can be taken with or without food. The quantity consumed should not be greater or lesser than the prescribed one. Ensure that the treatment course is completed. Report any adverse effects to the doctor immediately.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Pravastatin works by blocking an enzyme in the body that is responsible for making cholesterol. Thus it lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides and raises the level of good cholesterol (HDL).
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Statins
Schedule
Schedule H
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Pravastatin Sodium 10 mg Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 August 2021].
Drugs, H., 2021. Pravastatin: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 24 August 2021].
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2021. Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 August 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 August 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 27 Aug 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.