Highlights
- Pravastatin is part of the statin class of drugs and used to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.
- Pravastatin slows down both overall cholesterol production and LDL cholesterol production.
- Pravastatin is usually combined with lifestyle changes and other interventions for maximum effectiveness.
- In rare cases, pravastatin can cause liver damage and kidney problems, but most people who take pravastatin do not experience any problems.
- Pravastatin has dangerous interactions with several other medications, including niacin-based drugs, fibric acid-derived medications, and others.
According to the CDC, 86 million Americans, or 1 in 3 adults, have high cholesterol. For those most at risk of heart disease, this can be extremely dangerous as high cholesterol can aggravate heart disease symptoms, yet it shows few if any outward symptoms until it’s too late. Fortunately, pravastatin can be combined with other interventions to reduce your risk. Learn how pravastatin works, why it’s beneficial for heart disease, who can and shouldn’t use it, and how to get the lowest price for pravastatin.
What Is Pravastatin and What Is It Used For?
Pravastatin, sold under the brand name Pravachol, is a statin used to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. It’s used to help people at high risk of heart disease reduce the associated illnesses and lower the odds of mortality due to heart disease.
Pravastatin is generally one piece of a larger approach to treating heart disease. Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting regular cholesterol checks, are the most important part of treating high cholesterol. Pravastatin and other medications can help to lower cholesterol levels, but they are not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle.
How Does Pravastatin Work?
Pravastatin works by blocking the production of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that’s needed to make cholesterol. This results in a decrease in the total amount of cholesterol produced by the body, including LDL, or bad, cholesterol.
What Formulas Are Available for Pravastatin?
Pravastatin is available in tablet form, and is sometimes formulated with aspirin in a medication called Pravigard Pac.
Pravastatin Dosage and Administration
Pravastatin is available in doses of 10, 20, 40 and 80 milligrams. Starting doses vary and are dependent on age, body weight, cholesterol levels, and other factors. Your doctor may change your dosage according to blood test results.
How Should I Take Pravastatin?
Pravastatin should be taken at the same time every day. It can be taken with or without food, so choose a time that’s most convenient for you.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of Pravastatin?
Pravastatin’s most common side effects include:
- Pain in the joints or muscles
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea and diarrhea
- Headaches
- Cold-like symptoms including stuffy nose and sore throat
In extremely rare cases, pravastatin can have more serious side effects. Seek medical attention right away if you experience any of the following while taking pravastatin:
- Signs of kidney failure
- Unusual muscle weakness
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Dark colored urine
- Sudden muscle weakness in the hips, back, shoulders, and neck
- Difficulty raising your arms
- Difficulty climbing or standing
- Signs of liver damage
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in the upper right side of the stomach
- A yellowing of the skin or eyes.
What Should I Avoid When Taking Pravastatin?
Fatty and high-cholesterol foods can inhibit pravastatin’s effects. Your doctor may put you on a specific diet while you’re on pravastatin, which will make it more effective.
Watch your alcohol intake while using pravastatin, as it may raise the risk of liver damage. Inform your doctor if you have more than two drinks a day.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Pravastatin?
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it’s not almost time for your next dose. If you’re within a few hours of your next dose, take that instead and continue with your normal dosing schedule. Don’t take two doses of pravastatin at the same time.
What Should I Do If I Overdose on Pravastatin?
If you believe you’ve overdosed on pravastatin, contact the Poison Control Center and follow their guidance, or seek emergency medical attention.
Who Should Not Take Pravastatin?
If you have any of the following, or have experienced them in the past, be sure your prescribing provider knows about it before you begin pravastatin.
- Active liver disease. Due to its impacts on the liver, pravastatin elevates the risk of liver disease.
- Kidney disease. Pravastatin can cause muscle tissue breakdown in rare cases, raising the risk of kidney failure. Review the possible signs of kidney failure with your doctor before taking pravastatin.
- The possibility of becoming pregnant or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant, or might become pregnant, do not take pravastatin. If you find you’re pregnant while taking it, stop taking it immediately. Pravastatin is also potentially passed through breastmilk, so breastfeeding should be avoided.
Are There Any Potential Drug Interactions With Pravastatin?
Pravastatin has several major drug interactions, including:
- Niacin and niacin-containing medications. The combination of these two can cause unexplained muscle weakness. If you need to take niacin, review your risks with your doctor.
- Cyclosporine. Cyclosporine significantly slows the processing of pravastatin, raising the total amount in your blood and keeping it in your system for a longer period of time. This increases the risk of side effects, including serious side effects.
- Fibric acid based medications, including gemfibrozil, fenofibric acid, fenofibrate. Fibric acid drugs are also used to manage high cholesterol. In combination with pravastatin, they can make serious side effects, including kidney and liver damage, more likely.
- Colchicine. Pravastatin interferes with the removal of colchicine from the body, putting you at risk of muscle and kidney damage.
- Macrolide antibiotics, including clarithromycin, erythromycin, and azithromycin. These interact to make muscle tissue breakdown more likely.
This list of drugs that can interact with pravastatin is not complete. For a full list of 165 medications that can interact with pravastatin, see Pravastatin Drug Interactions.
Get the Lowest Price for Pravastatin With BidRx
If you’re working to lower your cholesterol, you have enough to manage without also dealing with comparison shopping to stay within your budget. BidRx helps you get the lowest price for pravastatin by bringing pharmacists to you. They bid for your business, you choose the price that works for you, and your medication is shipped straight to your door.
Visit our medications page to get started and to create your bid today!
Please note that this information is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medication.
