Pravachol/Pravastatin IS USED FOR:

Reducing high lipid levels and high cholesterol, with diet and exercise. It is also used to prevent certain heart problems, including slowing down the progression of hardening of the arteries in patients with heart disease. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Pravastatin/Pravachol is a beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor (statin). It works by lowering the blood levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (bad) cholesterol by reducing their production by the liver. They also increase the blood levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (good) cholesterol.

BEFORE USING Pravachol/Pravastatin :

Some medical conditions may interact with Pravastatin/Pravachol . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you have low blood pressure; a muscle disease; a blood infection; a metabolic, endocrine, or electrolyte problem; uncontrolled seizures; a severe infection; had a recent surgery, trauma, or organ transplant; or a high level of a creatine phosphokinase in your blood
• if you have allergies to medicines or other substances
• if you abuse alcohol or have a history of alcohol abuse
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Pravastatin/Pravachol . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Cyclosporine/Sandimmune or fibric acids (eg,gemfibrozil/Lopid ,fenofibrate/Tricor) because side effects such as severe muscle destruction may occur

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Pravastatin/Pravachol may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

HOW TO USE Pravachol/Pravastatin :

Use Pravastatin/Pravachol as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Try to take Pravastatin/Pravachol at the same time each day.
• If you miss a dose of Pravastatin/Pravachol , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
• Pravastatin/Pravachol may be taken with or without food.
• Take Pravastatin/Pravachol 1 hour before or 4 hours after taking bile-acid reducing resins (eg, cholestyramine, colestipol).

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Pravastatin/Pravachol .

DO NOT USE Pravachol/Pravastatin IF:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Pravastatin/Pravachol
• you have liver disease or abnormal liver tests
• you are taking fibric acids (eg, gemfibrozil/Lopid, fenofibrate/Tricor)
• you are pregnant or breast-feeding

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF Pravachol/Pravastatin :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Common cold; constipation; cough; diarrhea; dizziness; flu-like symptoms; gas; headache; heartburn; muscle aches; nausea; pain; rash; runny nose; soar throat; stomach pain; tiredness; urination problems (difficult or painful urination. frequent urination, frequent urination at night); unusual bleeding or bruising; vomiting; yellowing of skin or eyes.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; hoarseness; muscle cramps; muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (especially when associated with fever and a general feeling of discomfort); sore throat; swelling of hands, eyes, or throat; unusual bleeding or bruising; yellowing of skin or eyes.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

• Carefully follow the cholesterol-lowering diet given to you by your health care provider.
• Pravastatin/Pravachol may cause dizziness or blurred vision. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Pravastatin/Pravachol . Using Pravastatin/Pravachol alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• For best results, Pravastatin/Pravachol should be used along with exercise, a low-cholesterol/low-fat diet, and a weight loss program if you are overweight.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Pravastatin/Pravachol if you are pregnant. If you suspect that you could be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately. Pravastatin/Pravachol is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Pravastatin/Pravachol .
• Before having any kind of surgery, tell your doctor that you are taking Pravastatin/Pravachol .
• LAB TESTS, including liver function, kidney function, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.