Pravastatin

Pravastatin is used to

• reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke
• decrease the amount of cholesterol (a fat-like substance that can build up and clog blood vessels causing heart attack or stroke or other health conditions)

Pravastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing how much cholesterol your body makes. This lowers the amount of cholesterol that can build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.

Pravastatin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Take once a day with or without food. Take pravastatin at around the same time every day.

Take pravastatin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of pravastatin and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 4 weeks.

Continue to take pravastatin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking pravastatin without talking to your doctor.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking pravastatin,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this medication, any part of this medication, or any other medications, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take while taking pravastatin. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• the following nonprescription products may interact with pravastatin: antacids; cimetidine; niacin; aspirin. Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking these medications before you start taking pravastatin. Do not start any of these medications while taking pravastatin without discussing with your healthcare provider.
• if you are taking cholestyramine or colestipol, take them 4 hours before or 1 hour after pravastatin.
• tell your doctor if you have liver disease. Your doctor will order laboratory tests to see how well your liver is working even if you do not think you have liver disease. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take pravastatin if you have liver disease or if the tests show that you may be developing liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you drink more than two alcoholic beverages per day, if you are 65 years of age or older, if you have ever had liver disease or if you have or have ever had low blood pressure, muscle aches or weakness, seizures, or thyroid or kidney disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while you are taking pravastatin. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that you can use during your treatment. If you become pregnant while taking pravastatin, stop taking pravastatin and call your doctor immediately. Pravastatin may harm the fetus.
• do not breastfeed while you are taking this medication.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking pravastatin. If you are hospitalized due to serious injury or infection, tell the doctor who treats you that you are taking pravastatin.
• ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking pravastatin. Alcohol can increase the risk of serious side effects.

Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian. You can also visit the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) website for additional dietary information at https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.pdf.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue the regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Pravastatin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• heartburn
• headache
• memory loss or forgetfulness
• confusion

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following side effects, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical help:

• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness; lack of energy, extreme tiredness or weakness; fever
• yellowing of the skin or eyes; pain in the upper right part of the stomach; nausea; unusual bleeding or bruising; dark-colored urine; loss of appetite; flu-like symptoms
• rash, hives, itching; difficulty breathing or swallowing; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; hoarseness

Pravastatin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org

Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order lab tests during your treatment, especially if you develop symptoms of liver damage.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking pravastatin.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.

• Pravachol^®