Pravastatin belongs to the group of medicines called the statins or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. It helps prevent the production of cholesterol from the liver and thus reducing the cholesterol and other fats in the blood. It is prescribed to adults and children over the age of 8 years. Never take this drug if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. Breast feeding mothers should also stop taking this drug. Patients with liver disease should avoid this drug. Make sure the doctor is informed about any underlying liver or kidney disease, diabetes or thyroid disorder before taking this medicine. People who drink more than 2 drinks a day should tell the doctor about it. Do not eat foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. This will reduce the effectiveness of Pravastatin. http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.30649.latest.pdf
Like all drugs, Pravastatin may lead to side effects. Some of the serious side effects of Pravastatin include unexplained muscle pain, cramps, weakness along with high temperature. In some rare cases, it could lead to rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening kidney disease.
It can also lead to severe allergic reaction that causes swelling of the throat, tongue, lips, face leading to breathing trouble. Some of the common side effects include:
● Nightmares
● Memory loss
● Depression
● Breathing problems
● Shortness of breath
● Fever
● Diabetes
Some of the uncommon side effects include:
● Dizziness, headache, tiredness
● Blurred vision
● Indigestion, nausea, gas, wind, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea
● Bladder problems like painful urination
● Sexual difficulties
● Muscle pain or joint pain
Pravastatin should be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Swallow the tablet with a glass of water with or without food. Make sure you take the dose at the same time daily. To treat high cholesterol and fats in the blood, the patient is prescribed 10 to 40mg of Pravastatin once a day. The drug should most preferably be taken in the evening. Those given the drug to prevent heart and blood vessel diseases are given 40 mg once a day. For pediatric patients between 8 to 13 years of age suffering from hereditary disease, 10 mg to 20 mg of the medicine is prescribed. The patient has to take it once a day. 10 mg to 40 mg is given to people between 14 to 18 years. If you had an organ transplant, the doctor will prescribe a initial dose of 20 mg for one time a day.
Pravastatin helps reduce the LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Instead, it helps increase the HDL cholesterol. It works by reducing the cholesterol produced by the liver. It blocks the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase that is important for the production of cholesterol.
