Pravastatin Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Pravastatin Tablet (pravastatin sodium) is a prescription statin medicine used along with a healthy diet to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. It helps lower bad (LDL) cholesterol and raise good (HDL) cholesterol, while also helping to prevent heart attack, stroke, and other heart and blood vessel problems. Pravastatin is meant to be taken long term as part of an ongoing treatment plan, exactly as directed by a doctor.

What is Pravastatin Tablet

Pravastatin is a prescription medicine used along with a healthy diet to lower cholesterol and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood. It belongs to a group of medicines called statins.

Pravastatin Tablet uses

• Lowering high levels of 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) and raising 'good' cholesterol (HDL)
• Lowering high triglyceride levels in the blood
• Preventing heart attack, stroke, and other heart and blood vessel problems in people with or without existing heart disease
• Slowing the progression of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
• Lowering cholesterol caused by an inherited condition (heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia) in children 8 years and older
• Reducing high fat levels in the blood after an organ transplant

Benefits of Pravastatin Tablet

• Lowers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides
• Raises HDL ('good') cholesterol
• Reduces risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from heart disease
• May slow down hardening of the arteries

How Pravastatin Tablet works

Pravastatin blocks an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase that the body needs to make cholesterol. By blocking this enzyme, the liver makes less cholesterol, which lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and can also raise good cholesterol.

Pravastatin Tablet dosage

Take this medicine exactly as your doctor tells you, and follow any special low-fat diet your doctor recommends. It can be taken with or without food, and taking it at the same time each day can help you remember. If you also take a cholesterol-lowering resin such as cholestyramine or colestipol, take pravastatin at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after that medicine. Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol, since this can make the medicine less effective, and avoid grapefruit products, as they may interact with this medicine. If you have trouble swallowing the tablet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Doses for children and teenagers are different from adult doses, and this medicine is meant to be taken long term as part of an ongoing treatment plan.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Pravastatin Tablet

Common

• Muscle or joint pain
• Muscle stiffness
• Difficulty with moving
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Cold-like symptoms such as stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat
• Stomach pain
• Dizziness
• Trouble sleeping
• Unusual tiredness or weakness

Serious

• Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with tiredness or fever (possible sign of myopathy)
• Dark-colored urine, muscle cramps or spasms, fever, and feeling very tired or weak (possible sign of rhabdomyolysis, a serious muscle breakdown that can cause kidney problems)
• Signs of liver damage: headache, stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, loss of appetite, weight loss, tiredness, light-colored stools, upper right stomach pain, or yellowing of the eyes or skin
• Severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, hives, or rash
• Increased blood sugar levels
• Memory loss or confusion
• Depression or anxiety
• Muscle weakness that is constant, or muscle rupture
• Signs of myasthenia gravis or ocular myasthenia: worsening arm or leg weakness after activity, double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can cause muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), which can lead to serious kidney problems. Tell your doctor right away about any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with fever or tiredness.
• Do not take this medicine if you have active liver disease or a history of persistently abnormal liver tests.
• People over 65 years old may have a greater risk of muscle-related side effects such as muscle pain, weakness, and injury.
• Taking fusidic acid (an antibiotic) together with pravastatin can lead to serious muscle problems, so treatment may need to be temporarily stopped.
• This medicine may raise blood sugar levels, so your doctor will monitor you if you have or are at risk of diabetes.
• Avoid grapefruit products while taking this medicine, as they may interact and cause unwanted side effects.

Do not take pravastatin if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, because it can harm the unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.

Do not take pravastatin while breastfeeding, as it passes into breast milk and could harm the baby.

People with kidney disease may be at higher risk of muscle problems and may need a different dose.

Do not take pravastatin if you have active liver disease or persistently high liver enzyme levels, since this medicine can cause liver damage.

Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while taking this medicine, as it can raise triglyceride levels and increase the risk of liver damage.

This medicine usually does not affect your ability to drive or use machines, but if you get dizziness or blurred or double vision, make sure you are able to do so safely first.

Storage

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Keep from freezing.
• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
• Do not store above 30°C. Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing.
• Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with tiredness or fever, as this could be a sign of a serious muscle problem.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice signs of liver damage, such as loss of appetite, stomach pain, dark urine, tiredness, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
• Get medical help right away if you think you have taken too much of this medicine.
• Talk to your doctor if you notice weakness in your arms or legs that gets worse after activity, double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath, as these could be signs of a rare muscle disease.

Alternatives

• Bempedoic Acid
• Evolocumab
• Ezetimibe
• Simvastatin
• Atorvastatin