Pravastatin
Use Pravastatin as a treatment to lower cholesterol levels.
Prices from £18.00
In stock. Simply fill in a brief questionnaire. One of our doctors will review your order and prescribe a suitable treatment. How to Order
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Pravastatin is a tablet taken daily to reduce high cholesterol. It is part of a group of medicines called statins, and the active ingredient is pravastatin sodium. Brand names for pravastatin include Lipostat and Pravachol.
If you don’t have high cholesterol levels, you can also be prescribed pravastatin because you are at higher risk of heart disease or have had an organ transplant. The usual dose is between 10mg and 40mg per day for adults.
Prices
3 x 28 tablet(s) - £18.00
6 x 28 tablet(s) - £23.00
3 x 28 tablet(s) - £18.00
6 x 28 tablet(s) - £23.00
3 x 28 tablet(s) - £18.00
6 x 28 tablet(s) - £23.00
About Pravastatin
What is Pravastatin?
Pravastatin is a tablet that you take daily to reduce the cholesterol levels in your blood. This reduces your risk of heart disease which causes serious health conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.
You can be prescribed Pravastatin:
- to lower the levels of cholesterol in your blood
- to reduce your risk of developing heart disease, even when your cholesterol levels are normal
- after an organ transplant, to reduce increased cholesterol levels caused by the medication you are given to stop your body from rejecting your transplant
Pravastatin is also known as pravastatin sodium and is also sold under the brand names Lipostat and Pravachol.
How does Pravastatin work?
Pravastatin reduces the risk of heart disease by lowering the levels of ‘bad cholesterol’ in your blood while also increasing ‘good cholesterol’. Your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to make hormones and build cells.
Bad cholesterol
LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides (fatty substances) are known as ‘bad cholesterol’. Bad cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries. Eventually, this makes the arteries narrow, blocking the flow of blood to your vital organs such as your brain and heart. This can cause a stroke (brain) and heart attack (heart).
Good cholesterol
LDL cholesterol stops the build-up of ‘bad cholesterol’ by removing excess fat from blood vessels and tissues and protecting the artery walls from LDL cholesterol. It also prevents cells and chemicals in the blood and tissues from being broken down.
If you have high cholesterol levels, taking pravastatin will be most effective when combined with lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, reducing your alcohol intake, stopping smoking, and eating a diet that is low in saturated fats.
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It is quick and easy to find out what your cholesterol levels are. You take a finger-prick sample of blood which is then sent to a lab to be analysed.
You can order the test kit through our site, and it will be delivered wherever you want. Once you have the kit, you take the test and send the sample back to our lab via the post. The results will be in your patient account within a couple of days of our lab receiving your sample, and our doctors are available to advise you.
Your result will give you values for the following (the number tells you what a healthy level is):
- Total cholesterol: below 5 mmol/L
- HDL (good cholesterol): 1 mmol/L or above
- LDL (bad cholesterol): below 3 mmol/L
- Non-HDL (bad cholesterol): below 4 mmol/L
- Triglycerides: below 2.3 mmol/L
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Before your doctor prescribes you medication to reduce your cholesterol, they will advise you on how to make changes to your lifestyle, such as:
- eating a diet that is lower in cholesterol
- ensuring you are exercising regularly
- reducing your alcohol to the recommended 14 units per week and avoiding binge drinking
- quitting smoking
Depending on how high your cholesterol level is, and your other risks of heart disease, you may be able to manage your cholesterol levels with these changes.
The most common medication used to reduce cholesterol levels or prevent heart disease are statins like Pravastatin.
Other types are:
- atorvastatin
- fluvastatin
- simvastatin
- rosuvastatin
If you cannot take statins or the side effects impact your life, there are other medications you can try to reduce cholesterol. These include a medication called ezetimibe.
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Pravastatin is a safe medication to take with no common side effects. As with all medicines, some people will experience side effects.
Less than 1 in 100 people taking Pravastatin experience:
- dizziness/blurred vision
- constipation/diarrhoea/abdominal pain
- headaches
- feeling or being sick
- confusion
- problems sleeping
- tiredness
- skin rash
- dark coloured urine
Although rare (affecting fewer than 1 in 1000 people), Pravastatin can also cause more severe side effects, which can indicate a serious health condition.
You should seek medical attention right away if you have:
- symptoms of an allergic reaction (swelling around the mouth and face, itching, skin rash, trouble breathing)
- muscle cramps, weakness and pain, especially if you also have a fever (these can be symptoms of a life-threatening condition called rhabdomyolysis)
- signs of liver problems (dark urine, yellowing skin, stomach pain)
You should tell your doctor about any other medications or supplements you are taking.
This applies to:
- some HIV medicines
- some hepatitis C medicines
- some antibiotics and antifungals
- colchicine to treat gout
- ciclosporin to treat psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis
On very rare occasions, pravastatin has been linked to causing or worsening diabetes. Tell your doctor if you have diabetes or have been tested for it.
You will not be prescribed pravastatin if:
- you are allergic to pravastatin sodium or any of the ingredients
- you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breast-feeding
- your liver is functioning abnormally
You must tell your doctor if any of the following health conditions apply to you so they can be sure pravastatin is the right medication for you.
Tell your doctor if you have:
- kidney disease or history of liver disease
- underactive thyroid
- regularly drink large amounts of alcohol
- hereditary muscle disorder or constant muscle weakness
- recently taken a medicine called fusidic acid (for bacterial infection)
The patient information leaflet for pravastatin sodium tablets has more information on the side effects and contraindications associated with taking pravastatin.
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The usual dose of pravastatin to reduce high cholesterol is between 10mg and 40mg, with 40mg being the maximum dose for an adult. If you take pravastatin to prevent heart and blood vessel diseases but do not have high cholesterol, you will usually be prescribed 40mg per day.
If you take pravastatin after receiving an organ transplant, the starting dose is usually 20mg, but your doctor may adjust this.
Take your tablet in the evening with or without water. You should swallow it whole without chewing. Take your usual dose at the right time on the next day. Do not take a double dose. You can drink alcohol, but it is recommended to keep to the guidelines of no more than 14 units per week.
It is recommended to continue taking pravastatin as directed , even if you feel fine, until you have a chance to discuss your situation with your doctor. This is because there are often no symptoms associated with high cholesterol.
Dr Kathryn Basford is a qualified GP who works as a GP in London, as well as with ZAVA. She graduated from the University of Manchester and completed her GP training through Whipps Cross Hospital in London.
Meet our doctorsArticle created: 27 Sep 2021
Last reviewed: 27 Sep 2021
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HDL Cholesterol Heartuk.org [accessed 15th September 2021]
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High cholesterol NHS April 2019 [accessed 14th September 2021]
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Pravastatin NHS December 2018 [accessed 15th September 2021]
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Pravastatin Sodium EMC [accessed 15th September 2021]
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Statins NHS November 2018 [accessed 14th September 2021]
GMC: 7074021
GMC: 6149061
GMC: 7085115
To prevent the health risks associated with high levels of cholesterol, you need to keep taking your treatment regularly. If you’re taking statins for high cholesterol, you can reorder your treatment from Asda Online Doctor by ZAVA to avoid missing doses.
