Pravachol

Pronunciation: PRAV-a-STAT-in
Generic Name: Pravastatin
Brand Name: Pravachol

Pravachol is used for:

Lowering high cholesterol and triglycerides in certain patients. It also increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL, "good") cholesterol levels. It is used along with an appropriate diet. It is also used in certain patients to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to coronary heart disease. It is also used to slow blood vessel blockage and to reduce the need for medical procedures to open blocked blood vessels. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Pravachol is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, also known as a "statin." It works by reducing the production of certain fatty substances in the body, including cholesterol.

Do NOT use Pravachol if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Pravachol


• you have liver problems or unexplained abnormal liver function tests


• you are pregnant or breast-feeding

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Pravachol:

Some medical conditions may interact with Pravachol. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are planning to become pregnant


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have low blood pressure, a serious infection, kidney problems, diabetes, muscle pain or tenderness, or a history of seizures


• if you have metabolism, hormonal, or electrolyte problems


• if you drink alcohol, have jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or have a history of liver problems or alcohol abuse


• if you have recently had major surgery or a serious injury


• if you have a certain type of high cholesterol (homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Pravachol. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), fibrates (eg, gemfibrozil, clofibrate), fluconazole, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), immunosuppressants (eg, cyclosporine), macrolides (eg, erythromycin), niacin, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (eg, delavirdine), telithromycin, or voriconazole because they may increase the risk of muscle or kidney problems


• Cimetidine or spironolactone because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Pravachol

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Pravachol may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Pravachol:

Use Pravachol as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Pravachol by mouth with or without food.


• If you take cholestyramine or colestipol, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to take it with Pravachol.


• Continue to take Pravachol even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.


• If you miss a dose of Pravachol, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Pravachol.

Important safety information:

• Pravachol may cause dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Pravachol with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Drinking alcohol daily or in large amounts may increase the risk of liver problems with Pravachol. Check with your doctor before drinking alcohol while you are taking Pravachol.


• Follow the diet and exercise program given to you by your health care provider.


• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Pravachol before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.


• Women who may become pregnant should use effective birth control while taking Pravachol. Check with your doctor if you have questions about using birth control.


• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.


• Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to your doctor right away, especially if you also have a fever or general body discomfort.


• Lab tests, including blood cholesterol levels and liver function tests, may be performed while you use Pravachol. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Pravachol should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 8 years old and in those who have not reached puberty; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Pravachol if you are pregnant. It may cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. Pravachol is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while you are taking Pravachol.

Possible side effects of Pravachol:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Headache; heartburn.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain; dark urine; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; flu-like symptoms; muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (with or without fever or fatigue); pale stools; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe stomach pain; vision changes; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Pravachol side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.

Proper storage of Pravachol:

Store Pravachol at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Pravachol out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Pravachol, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Pravachol is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Pravachol. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Pravachol resources

• Pravachol Side Effects (in more detail)
• Pravachol Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Pravachol Drug Interactions
• Pravachol Support Group
• 4 Reviews for Pravachol - Add your own review/rating

• Pravachol Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Pravachol Consumer Overview


• Pravachol Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Pravachol Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Pravastatin Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare Pravachol with other medications

• High Cholesterol
• High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous
• Hyperlipoproteinemia
• Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa, Elevated LDL
• Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIb, Elevated LDL VLDL
• Hyperlipoproteinemia Type III, Elevated beta-VLDL IDL
• Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV, Elevated VLDL
• Ischemic Stroke, Prophylaxis
• Myocardial Infarction, Prophylaxis
• Revascularization Procedures, Prophylaxis