Common use

Pravachol belongs to a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or "statins." Pravachol is used together with diet to lower blood levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL), to increase levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL), and to lower triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood). Pravachol is also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart complications in people with or without coronary heart disease or other risk factors.

Dosage and direction

Take Pravachol exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Take the medicine at the same time each day, with or without food. Pravastatin doses are based on age, and are lower in children and teenagers. People taking this medicine during childhood or adolescence may need a different dose as adults. It may take up to 4 weeks before your cholesterol levels improve.

Precautions

To make sure Pravachol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had: kidney disease; abnormal liver function tests; muscle pain or weakness; a thyroid disorder; or if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily.
Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol, or pravastatin will not be as effective.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage.
Grapefruit may interact with pravastatin and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

Contraindications

Stop taking Pravachol and tell your doctor at once if you become pregnant.
You should not use Pravachol if you are allergic to pravastatin, or if: you are pregnant or breastfeeding; or you have active liver disease.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Pravachol: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
In rare cases, pravastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, or dark colored urine.
Call your doctor right away if you have: muscle weakness in your hips, shoulders, neck, and back; trouble lifting your arms, trouble climbing or standing; or liver problems - loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Common Pravachol side effects may include: muscle or joint pain; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; headache; or cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

Drug interaction

If you take cholestyramine or colestipol, take your Pravachol dose 1 hours before or 4 hours after you take the other medicine.
Some drugs can increase your risk of serious muscle problems if you take them together with Pravachol. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs: cyclosporine; colchicine; clarithromycin, erythromycin, azithromycin; gemfibrozil, fenofibric acid, fenofibrate; or medicines that contain niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others).

Missed dose

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. Keep away from children.