General Information on Pravachol
Pravachol is used for lowering bad cholesterol and fats in the blood and raising good cholesterol. The generic name of the drug is Pravastatin, and it belongs to the class of statins.
Pravachol is available in the form of oral tablets. It works by decreasing cholesterol content that your liver makes. By doing this, Pravachol also helps in reducing the risks of heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes.
Apart from taking Pravachol regularly, your doctor will also advise you to exercise on a regular basis, maintain a proper diet, lose weight, and stop smoking. You should follow his/her instructions as closely as possible.
Side effects of Pravachol
Before you buy Pravachol, inform your doctor if you have a kidney or liver disease, or if you drink alcohol regularly. Also inform your doctor if you have an allergy to Pravachol or to any of its ingredients.
Your doctor will advise you to limit your alcohol intake. Consuming alcohol on a regular basis may increase your risks of experiencing a liver problem when combined with Pravachol.
Elderly patients are more prone to muscle problems while taking Pravachol, including muscle tenderness, weakness or pain.
Pravachol may also lead to a liver problem in some cases. Symptoms of such a condition include:
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Severe stomach or abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
Your doctor will not recommend you to buy Pravachol if you are a pregnant woman or a breastfeeding mother. The drug may reach the fetus and pass into breast milk and harm the unborn child or nursing baby. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, you should use a barrier form of contraception during Pravachol treatment, as hormonal contraceptives may not be as effective as expected while you are on Pravachol treatment. If you are breastfeeding a child, you will be advised to stop breastfeeding temporarily during Pravachol treatment.
Some patients may experience an allergy to Pravachol. Symptoms of an allergy include facial swelling, severe dizziness, breathing problems, or hives. Stop taking Pravachol and seek medical attention immediately if you have any of the above mentioned symptoms.
Dosage of Pravachol
Initially, your doctor will advise you to take Pravachol 40mg once a day. If the desired results are not achieved, your dosage may be increased to Pravachol 80mg once daily. Patients with impaired renal function will be advised to take Pravachol 10mg per day.
You can take the tablet with or without meals, but try to take it at almost the same time each day. By doing this, a routine will be established and you will not forget to take the tablet every day. In addition to this, the amount of Pravachol in your blood will also remain consistent.
Drug Interactions of Pravachol
If you are already using other drugs for lowering cholesterol levels (such as bile acid-binding resins like colestipol or cholestyramine), you should take Pravachol at least 1 hour before these medications. Such drugs may interact with Pravachol and may prevent its absorption. Let your doctor know about all medications you are currently taking.
