Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Pravachol

Generic Name: pravastatin (Pronunciation: PRAV a STAT in)

• What is pravastatin (Pravachol)?
• What are the possible side effects of pravastatin (Pravachol)?
• What is the most important information I should know about pravastatin (Pravachol)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking pravastatin (Pravachol)?
• How should I take pravastatin (Pravachol)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Pravachol)?
• What happens if I overdose (Pravachol)?
• What should I avoid while taking pravastatin (Pravachol)?
• What other drugs will affect pravastatin (Pravachol)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is pravastatin (Pravachol)?

Pravastatin is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.

Pravastatin reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries, conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.

Pravastatin is used to treat high cholesterol. Pravastatin is also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in people with coronary heart disease.

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

Pravachol 10 mg

square, pink, imprinted with PRAVACHOL 10, LOGO P

Pravachol 20 mg

square, yellow, imprinted with PRAVACHOL 20, LOGO P

Pravachol 40 mg

square, green, imprinted with PRAVACHOL 40, LOGO P

Pravachol 80 mg

oval, yellow, imprinted with BMS, 80

Pravastatin 10 mg-APO

round, pink, imprinted with APO, PRA 10

Pravastatin 10 mg-TEV

round, pink, imprinted with 93, 771

Pravastatin 20 mg-APO

round, yellow, imprinted with APO, PRA 20

Pravastatin 20 mg-TEV

round, yellow, imprinted with 93, 7201

Pravastatin 40 mg-APO

round, green, imprinted with APO, PRA 40

Pravastatin 40 mg-TEV

round, green, imprinted with 93, 7202

What are the possible side effects of pravastatin (Pravachol)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using pravastatin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• chest pain;
• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever or flu symptoms and dark colored urine; or
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects include:

• mild stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea;
• heartburn, gas, bloating, upset stomach;
• tired feeling;
• headache, dizziness;
• stuffy nose, cold or flu symptoms;
• skin rash; or
• general pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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

In rare cases, pravastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark colored urine.

This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

Do not take pravastatin if you have liver disease, or if you are breast-feeding.

Before taking pravastatin, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, underactive thyroid, kidney disease, a muscle disorder, or if you drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages per day.

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Pravastatin will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking pravastatin. Alcohol can raise triglyceride levels, and may also damage your liver while you are taking pravastatin.

There may be other drugs that can interact with pravastatin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.