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Pravachol, |Pravachol

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Pravachol

Generic Name: pravastatin (PRAH vah stah tin)
Brand Names: Pravachol

What is pravastatin?

Pravastatin is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. Pravastatin blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.

Pravastatin is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. These actions are important in reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Pravastatin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about pravastatin?

Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of pravastatin and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems. Do not take pravastatin without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease. Alcohol and pravastatin can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined. Do not take pravastatin if you are pregnant, could become pregnant during treatment, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking pravastatin?

Do not take pravastatin without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.

Before taking pravastatin, tell your doctor if you

have kidney disease,
drink alcoholic beverages,
have a chronic muscular disease, or
have a blood disorder.

Your may not be able to take pravastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Pravastatin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that pravastatin is known to cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. Do not take pravastatin if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Pravastatin passes into breast milk and may be harmful to a nursing infant. Do not take pravastatin if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take pravastatin?

Take pravastatin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. For the greatest effect, pravastatin is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. It may also be taken several times a day. Follow your doctor"s instructions.

Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with pravastatin and at twelve weeks after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.

Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To see beneficial effects from pravastatin, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.

It is important to take pravastatin regularly to get the most benefit.

Do not stop taking pravastatin without first talking to your doctor. Pravastatin may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.

Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with pravastatin to monitor progress and side effects.

Store pravastatin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

Symptoms of a pravastatin overdose include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion.

What should I avoid while taking pravastatin?

Alcohol and pravastatin can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.

Pravastatin side effects

Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of pravastatin and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems. If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking pravastatin and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or
blurred vision.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take pravastatin and talk to your doctor if you experience

gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea;
a cough;
headache; or
insomnia.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect pravastatin?

Do not take pravastatin without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);
niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin); or
cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid).

You may not be able to take pravastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with pravastatin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has additional information about pravastatin written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Pravastatin is available with a prescription under the brand name Pravachol. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Pravachol 10 mg--rounded rectangular, pink tablets
Pravachol 20 mg--rounded rectangular, yellow tablets
Pravachol 40 mg--rounded rectangular, green tablets

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ("Multum") is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum"s drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum"s drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 9.02. Revision Date: 10/10/05 11:22:18 AM.

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