Side Effects of Pravastatin – Pravastatin is a drug used alongside the diet to lower cholesterol and bad fats (such as LDL, triglycerides) and increase the good cholesterol in the blood. It belongs to the drug group called “Statins” or HMG CoA reductase inhibitors. The way it works is by reducing the amount of liver-produced cholesterol. Lowering bad cholesterol and triglycerides and increasing the amount of good cholesterol lowers your risk of heart disease while helping to prevent strokes and heart attacks.
In addition to having a good diet (such as low cholesterol and low fat diets), some lifestyle changes can also help the drug work better, including exercising, reducing weight if excessive, and quitting smo**king. Talk to your doctor for details.
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General indication.
Hyperlipidemia. Pravastatin is indicated as an addition to the diet to reduce the increased levels of total-C, LDL-C, Apo B, and TG in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and a mixture of dyslipidemia (Fredrickson type IIa and IIb).
Used to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood, as well as to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in diabetics, diseases or other risk factors.
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Composition.
Pravastatin.
Before taking this drug.
- Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Pravastatin will not be effective in lowering your cholesterol if you are not following a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.
- Avoid drinking alco**hol. It can increase triglyceride levels and may increase the risk of liver damage.
- There are many other medications that can increase the risk of serious health problems if you take them together with Pravastatin. Tell your doctor about all the medications you use. These include prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, and herbal products. Do not start a new treatment without telling your doctor. Make a list of all the medicines and show them to the health care provider who treated you.
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Dose.
Use of this drug must comply with the docotr’s instructions. The recommended starting dose is 10 mg or 20 mg 1 x a day at night. Patients with primary hypercholesterolemia who have a history of liver or kidney dysfunction.
Older people: the recommended initial dose 10 mg a day at night. Giving together with immunosupressants drugs (such as cyclosporine) begins with 10 mg of pravastatin once a day at night. Further dose adjustment with caution.
Dosage scope: 10-40 mg through the mouth (per oral), 1 time a day before bedtime.
Warning.
Abnormalities of renal function, pregnant and nursing, increased levels of creatinine phosphokinase and transaminase, familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia, deterioration of renal function.
Interaction.
Immunosuppressants, gemfibrozil, nicotinic acid, erythromycin, cytochrome P450 3A 4 inhibitors, cholestiramine, diitiazem, itraconazole, antipirin.
Side Effects of Pravastatin.
Here is a list of possible side effects that can occur with medications containing Pravastatin. This is not a comprehensive list. These side effects allow, but are not always the case. Some of these side effects of Pravastatin are rare but serious. Consult your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects, especially if the side effects don’t disappear.
- Effects of Muscoskeletal (myalgia, arthralgia, muscle cramps);
- Effects of GI (diarrhea, abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, constipation.);
- Skeletal: rabdomoliolysis, myopathy.
- The occurrence of myopathy and is usually associated with high doses when statins are combined with nicotinic acid (niacin) or fibrate, in patients with liver or kidney damage, serious infections, hypothyroidism, and in elderly patients.
- Occurrence of rhabdomyolysis, but somewhat rare.
- Advise patients to immediately consult a physician, if signs of muscle disease that leads to myopathy occurs (especially if accompanied by fever and malaise).
- Skin rash,
- Chest pain,
- Fatigue,
- CNS: Dizziness, headache,
- Sleep disorders,
- Abnormal urination (no urination, frequency of urination, nocturia),
- Se**xual dysfunction,
- Visual impairment: accelerating cataracts.
- Alopecia,
- Anemia,
- Thrombocytopenia,
- Leukopenia,
- Transient asymptomatic eosinophilia,
- Gynecomastia,
- Ophthalmoplegia,
- Anorexia.
Very rarely found:
- Pancreatitis,
- Fulminant hepatic necrosis,
- Peripheral neuropathy,
- Systemic lupus erythematosus syndrome.
If you notice any other side effects that are not above, contact your doctor for medical advice. You can also report side effects to your local food and Drug Administration authorities.
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