Pravachol may also be used off-label for other conditions. Pravachol is FDA-approved to prevent cardiovascular disease in adults.
For this use, Pravachol is used along with a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Pravachol is FDA-approved to prevent cardiovascular problems in adults with heart disease. For those with heart disease, Pravachol is used to:. Effectiveness for preventing cardiovascular problems in people with heart disease.
People in the study took either 40 milligrams mg of Pravachol or a placebo a treatment with no active drug once per day for an average of nearly 5. Researchers wanted to see how effective each treatment was at lowering rates of heart attack and death due to heart disease. At the end of the study:. Effectiveness for preventing cardiovascular problems in adults without heart disease. People in this study received dietary advice and also took either 40 mg of Pravachol or a placebo once per day for an average of nearly 5 years.
Researchers wanted to see how effective each treatment was at lowering the risk of heart attack and death due to heart disease. Pravachol is FDA-approved to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in adults. For this purpose, Pravachol is used along with a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Pravachol is also approved to treat high cholesterol in children ages 8 years and older. Cholesterol is measured in several ways.
Total cholesterol is the overall amount of cholesterol found in your blood. Total cholesterol consists of:. Pravachol is approved to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in certain situations.
It also has certain limitations on its use. The sections below describe these situations and limitations in more detail. Pravachol is FDA-approved, along with a healthy diet, to help lower cholesterol levels in adults with the following conditions:. Primary and mixed high cholesterol are caused by a mutation permanent change in the genes that control how cholesterol and fats are cleared from your body.
In people with either condition, Pravachol can help:. Pravachol is FDA-approved to lower triglyceride levels in adults with high amounts of triglycerides in their blood. VLDL helps move triglycerides through your body. This is different from LDL, which helps move cholesterol through your body. Chylomicrons help your body digest fat. Several studies have shown Pravachol to be effective for treating high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in adults.
Three clinical studies two lasting 6 weeks, one lasting 8 weeks looked at adults with primary or mixed high cholesterol. People in these studies either took Pravachol at various doses or a placebo a treatment with no active drug once per day.
Pravachol is approved to lower cholesterol in children ages 8 years and older who have a condition called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia HeFH. This condition is a genetic inherited condition that causes high cholesterol.
Pravachol is only approved for this use if, after trying a diet prescribed by their doctor, your child still falls into one of the following categories.
High cholesterol rarely causes any symptoms. HeFH is typically diagnosed after a blood test finds that your child has high cholesterol. A 2-year clinical trial looked at children ages 8 to 18 years with HeFH. Children ages 8 to 13 years took either 20 mg of Pravachol or a placebo a treatment with no active drug once a day.
Children ages 14 to 18 years took either 40 mg of Pravachol or a placebo once a day. Researchers wanted to see how effective each treatment was at lowering cholesterol levels. After 2 years:. Depending on the condition Pravachol is being used to treat, it may be taken on its own or with other drugs. Specifically, you should take Pravachol either 1 hour before or at least 4 hours after you take your bile acid binding resin. If you have questions about using other medications with Pravachol, talk with your doctor.
Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. Pravachol comes as a tablet that you take by mouth.
Pravachol used to also be available in strengths of 10 mg and 80 mg, but those strengths are no longer on the market. The recommended starting dosage for preventing cardiovascular disease in adults is 40 mg taken once per day. However, your doctor may prescribe a dosage of 10 mg to 80 mg daily. Your specific dosage will depend on how effective Pravachol is for your condition and whether you have any side effects from the drug.
The recommended starting dosage for lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in adults is 40 mg taken once per day. In children ages 8 to 13 years, the recommended starting dosage to treat high cholesterol is 20 mg taken once per day.
However, your child may be prescribed a dose of 10 mg to 20 mg. For children ages 14 to 18 years, the recommended starting dosage to treat high cholesterol is 40 mg taken once per day. However, your child may be prescribed a dose of 10 mg to 40 mg. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. This can raise your risk for side effects from the drug. This can include setting an alarm on your phone or downloading a reminder app.
A kitchen timer can work, too. Pravachol is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions.
Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride levels include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to prevent cardiovascular disease include:. You may wonder how Pravachol compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Pravachol and Lipitor are alike and different.
Pravachol contains the active drug pravastatin, and Lipitor contains the active drug atorvastatin. Both pravastatin and atorvastatin are statins. Statins are a drug class commonly used to treat high cholesterol. Lipitor is approved for this use in children ages 10 years and older.
Pravachol and Lipitor have some similar side effects and others that vary. Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with each drug, as well as mild side effects that both drugs may share. This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with both Pravachol and Lipitor:.
However, studies have found both Pravachol and Lipitor to be effective for treating high cholesterol. Pravachol and Lipitor have been indirectly compared in a meta-analysis. This is a type of study that looks at data from multiple clinical trials. The researchers who conducted the analysis found Pravachol and Lipitor to be similarly effective at lowering the risk of cardiovascular problems and death in adults. The American College of Cardiology releases guidelines for managing high cholesterol.
Statins, including Pravachol and Lipitor, are listed in these guidelines as effective medications. The statin your doctor prescribes for you will depend on factors such as your age, cholesterol level, and your risk for cardiovascular problems.
If you have questions about which statin is right for you, talk with your doctor. According to estimates on GoodRx. Pravachol is available as a generic drug called pravastatin. Lipitor is available as a generic drug called atorvastatin. As with all medications, the cost of Pravachol can vary. To find current prices for Pravachol in your area, check out GoodRx.
The cost you find on GoodRx. Before approving coverage for Pravachol, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the prior authorization request and decide if the drug will be covered.
Medicine Assistance Tool is a website that lists programs that may help lower the cost of certain medications. Pravachol is available in a generic form called pravastatin.
And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs. To find out how the cost of pravastatin compares to the cost of Pravachol, visit GoodRx. They may have a preference for one version or the other. However, consistently drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can cause liver damage. Pravachol may also cause liver damage in some people. Therefore, drinking too much during your Pravachol treatment could raise your risk for liver problems. If you drink alcohol, especially in large amounts, talk with your doctor before taking Pravachol.
They can tell you how much alcohol, if any, is safe to drink during your treatment. Pravachol can interact with several other medications, as well as interact with certain supplements. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.
Below is information about medications that can interact with Pravachol. This does not cover all drugs that may interact with Pravachol. Before taking Pravachol, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Taking Pravachol with cyclosporine may raise your risk for muscle pain and a dangerous condition called rhabdomyolysis muscle breakdown. Cyclosporine blocks certain enzymes proteins that your body uses to break down Pravachol. Blocking these enzymes leads to higher levels of Pravachol in your blood, which can lead to side effects such as muscle pain. Cyclosporine is used to help prevent your body from rejecting a transplanted organ.
Your doctor may decide to prescribe this dose, or they may try a different medication for your condition. Taking Pravachol with certain antibiotics called macrolides may increase your risk for experiencing muscle pain and a dangerous condition called rhabdomyolysis muscle breakdown. This can occur because macrolides block certain enzymes proteins that your body uses to break down Pravachol. Macrolides are used to treat certain infections.
Examples of macrolides include clarithromycin and erythromycin. They may lower your Pravachol dose, or they have you try a different medication for your condition.
Taking Pravachol with colchicine may raise your risk for muscle pain and a dangerous condition called rhabdomyolysis muscle breakdown. Colchicine blocks certain enzymes proteins that your body uses to break down Pravachol. Colchicine is used to treat gout , and this drug can also cause muscle pain. If you need to take Pravachol with colchicine, your doctor may lower your dose of Pravachol. Or they may use a different medication to treat your condition.
Gemfibrozil is a fibrate drug used to lower the amount of fats such as triglycerides in your blood. Taking Pravachol with gemfibrozil may raise your risk for muscle pain and a dangerous condition called rhabdomyolysis muscle breakdown.
Both medications can cause these side effects, and taking the drugs together raises your risk for them even more. Fibrate medications may also cause muscle pain as a side effect. If you need to take Pravachol with a fibrate other than gemfibrozil, your doctor may lower your dose of Pravachol. Or they may prescribe a different medication to treat your condition. Taking Pravachol with niacin vitamin B3 may raise your risk for muscle pain. Vitamin B3 is prescribed to treat high cholesterol.
Both medications can cause muscle pain, so taking them together raises your risk for muscle pain even more. If you need to take Pravachol with vitamin B3, your doctor may lower your dose of Pravachol. Or they may have you try a different medication to treat your condition. Pravachol is known to interact with niacin vitamin B3 , which is available both as a prescription medication and as an over-the-counter supplement.
If you have any questions about eating certain foods with Pravachol, talk with your doctor. Pravachol is safe for use in people with diabetes. Statin drugs like Pravachol are commonly used to prevent cardiovascular heart and blood vessel problems in people with diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association , people with diabetes and risk factors for heart disease should take a statin drug.
Some studies suggest statins such as Pravachol may actually help improve tinnitus. However, according to other studies , some people taking statin drugs such as Pravachol have experienced tinnitus. More research is needed to determine whether statins are linked with tinnitus. If you have questions about the side effects of Pravachol, talk with your doctor. People with high cholesterol or heart disease or who are at risk for heart disease should follow a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat.
Dietary guidelines from the American Heart Association for managing cholesterol and lowering your risk for heart disease include:. If you have questions about following a healthy diet while taking Pravachol, talk with your doctor. Pravastatin is a generic medication that is usually covered by Medicare and insurance plans. Lipitor is a brand-name medication that is also available in a cheaper, generic version.
The generic version of Lipitor, atorvastatin, is typically covered by most Medicare and insurance plans. Brand-name Lipitor may be covered by insurance plans with a high copay. The most common side effects of pravastatin are musculoskeletal or muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache.
The most common side effects of atorvastatin are musculoskeletal or muscle pain, diarrhea, and joint pain arthralgia. Both pravastatin and atorvastatin can also cause other side effects such as indigestion, dizziness, fatigue, rash, and urinary tract infections.
Serious side effects of statin drugs include muscle disease myopathy and the rapid breakdown of muscle tissue rhabdomyolysis. Contact a healthcare provider immediately if you experience persistent or unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness.
Pravastatin and atorvastatin can also cause elevated liver enzymes. Liver enzyme levels may need to be checked before and monitored throughout treatment. Frequency is not based on data from a head-to-head trial. This may not be a complete list of adverse effects that can occur. Please refer to your doctor or healthcare provider to learn more. Pravastatin and atorvastatin interact with similar medications.
However, since atorvastatin is metabolized primarily by the CYP3A4 enzyme in the liver, it may interact with more drugs that affect the CYP3A4 enzymes in the liver.
Taking medications like cyclosporine, clarithromycin, or ritonavir with either pravastatin or atorvastatin can lead to increased statin levels in the blood, which can increase the risk of adverse effects. Antacids can interfere with the absorption of statin medications and reduce their effectiveness. The administration of antacids and statins should be separated by at least two hours. Cholestyramine can also decrease the absorption and effectiveness of statins.
The administration of cholestyramine and statins should be separated by four hours. Niacin and fibrates can increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis when taken with either pravastatin or atorvastatin. The use of atorvastatin should be avoided or monitored while consuming grapefruit juice.
Grapefruit juice acts as a CYP3A4 inhibitor that can lead to increased levels of atorvastatin in the blood and increase the risk of side effects. Pravastatin and atorvastatin should be avoided in those with active liver disease or high liver enzyme levels.
Statin medications can cause further liver damage in someone with liver disease. Pravastatin and atorvastatin should not be used in those with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to statin medications. Signs and symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction include rash, itching, swelling, and trouble breathing.
Statin medications carry a risk of severe muscle damage and muscle pain. There may be an increased risk of muscle pain in those who are over 65 years old or who have uncontrolled hypothyroidism or kidney problems.
Talk to a healthcare provider to discuss other possible warnings or precautions associated with pravastatin or atorvastatin. Pravastatin is a generic medication used to lower cholesterol and prevent complications caused by high cholesterol levels. The brand name of pravastatin is Pravachol. It is prescribed to be taken once daily in the evening. Pravastatin is available as an oral tablet. Lipitor is a brand-name medication manufactured by Pfizer.
The generic name of Lipitor is atorvastatin. It is used to treat high cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Lipitor is prescribed to be taken once daily in the morning or evening. It is available as an oral tablet. Both pravastatin and atorvastatin are medications used to reduce high levels of cholesterol. However, they are not the same. Atorvastatin is primarily metabolized by the CYP P enzyme system in the liver while pravastatin is broken down in the stomach.
Pravastatin is usually taken at night while Lipitor is taken in the morning or evening. Both pravastatin and Lipitor are effective forms of statin therapy.
Both medications can help prevent complications of high cholesterol levels, such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. Some studies from cardiology journals have found that atorvastatin, the active ingredient in Lipitor, is more effective than other statin drugs for preventing cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke. A healthcare provider can provide medical advice on the best statin medication for you.
Pravastatin and atorvastatin are not recommended to be taken while pregnant. Both medications carry a high risk of causing birth defects.
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