Brand name:
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin
sodium )
Pronounced: PRAV-a-coll
Generic name: Pravastatin sodium
Why is Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) prescribed?
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) is a cholesterol-lowering drug. Your doctor may prescribe
it along with a cholesterol-lowering diet if your blood cholesterol
level is dangerously high and you have not been able to lower it by
diet alone.
High cholesterol can lead to heart problems. By lowering your cholesterol,
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) improves your chances of avoiding a heart attack, heart surgery,
and death from heart disease. In people who already have hardening
of the arteries, it slows progression of the disease and cuts the risk
of acute attacks.
The drug works by helping to clear harmful low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol out of the blood and by limiting the body's ability
to form new LDL cholesterol. For people at high risk of heart disease,
current guidelines call for considering drug therapy when LDL levels
reach 130. For people at lower risk, the cut-off is 160. For those
at little or no risk, it's 190.
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) can also be prescribed for children ages 8 and older when
diet alone fails to lower their cholesterol levels.
Most important fact about Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium )
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) is usually prescribed only if diet, exercise, and weight-loss
fail to bring your cholesterol levels under control. It's important
to remember that Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) is a supplement--not a substitute--for those
other measures. To get the full benefit of the medication, you need
to stick to the diet and exercise program prescribed by your doctor.
All these efforts to keep your cholesterol levels normal are important
because together they may lower your risk of heart disease.
How should you take Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium )?
For an even greater cholesterol-lowering effect, your doctor may prescribe
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) along with a different kind of lipid-lowering drug such as
Questran or Colestid. However, you must not take Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) at the same
time of day as the other cholesterol-lowering drug. Take Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium )
at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after taking the other drug.
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) should be taken once daily.
You may take it anytime, with or without food.Your doctor will probably
do blood tests for cholesterol levels every
4 weeks to determine the effectiveness of the dose.
If you miss a dose...
Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time
for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular
schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Storage instructions Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) (Pravastatin, Lipostat, Pravachol)
Store at room temperature, in a tightly closed container, away from
moisture and light.
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) side effects
Side effects from Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) cannot be anticipated. If any develop
or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only
your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ).
* Side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, chest pain, constipation, cough, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue,
gas, headache, heartburn, inflammation of nasal passages, muscle aching or
weakness, nausea, rash, stomach or intestinal discomfort, urinary problems,
vomiting
Why should Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) not be prescribed?
Do not take Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) if you are sensitive or have ever had an allergic
reaction to it.
Do not take Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) if you have liver disease.
Special warnings about Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium )
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) should not be used to try to lower high cholesterol that
stems from a medical condition such as alcoholism, poorly controlled
diabetes, an underactive thyroid gland, or a kidney or liver problem.
Because Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) may cause damage to the liver, your doctor will
probably do blood tests before you start taking the drug and whenever
he plans a dosage increase. The doctor should monitor you especially
carefully if you've recently had liver disease, if you have any symptoms
that might mean liver disease, or if you're a heavy drinker.
Since Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) may cause damage to muscle tissue, promptly report
to your doctor any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness,
especially if you also have a fever or you just generally do not feel
well.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium )
If Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either
could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important
to check with your doctor before combining Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) with the following:
Cholestyramine (Questran)
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Colestipol (Colestid)
Diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac)
Drugs that suppress the immune system, such as Sandimmune and Neoral
Erythromycin (E.E.S., Erythrocin, others)
Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Niacin (Niacor, Niaspan)
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
You must not become pregnant while taking Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ). Because this
drug lowers cholesterol, and cholesterol is necessary for the proper
development of an unborn baby, there is some suspicion that Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium )
might cause birth defects. Your doctor will prescribe Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) only
if you are highly unlikely to become pregnant while taking the drug.
If you do become pregnant while taking Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ), inform your doctor
immediately.
Because Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) appears in breast milk, and because its cholesterol-lowering
effects might prove harmful to a nursing baby, you should not take
Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) while you are breastfeeding.
Recommended dosage for Pravachol ( Prava, pravastatin sodium ) (Pravastatin, Lipostat,
Pravachol)
ADULTS
Overdosage
