Adult Dosing
Primary prevention of coronary events, secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, hyperlipidemia
- Start 40 mg PO qd; if desired cholesterol levels are not achieved, take 80 mg qd
- Patients with significant renal dysfunction: Start with 10 mg qd
- If co-administered with immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine): Start 10 mg PO qhs and titrate with caution. Max: 20 mg/day
- If taking bile-acid-binding resins concomitantly: Give pravastatin at least 1hr before or 4 hrs following bile-acid-binding resins
- If co-administered with clarithromycin, pravastatin dose should be limited to 40 mg PO qd
Note:
- Because the maximal effect of a given dose is noted withing 4 wks, regular lipid levels should be performed at this time and dose adjusted according to the patient's therapeutic response and established treatment guidelines
- Should be placed on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet before initiating therapy and should continue on this diet during treatment
Pediatric Dosing
- Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients <8 yrs of age have not been established
Primary prevention of coronary events, secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, hyperlipidemia
- 8-13 yrs: Start 20 mg PO qd. Max: 20 mg
- 14-18 yrs: 40 mg PO qd. Max: 40 mg
Note:
- Because the maximal effect of a given dose is noted withing 4 wks, regular lipid levels should be performed at this time and dose adjusted according to the patient's therapeutic response and established treatment guidelines
- Should be placed on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet before initiating therapy and should continue on this diet during treatment
- Re-evaluate children and adolescents receiving pravastatin in adulthood and make appropriate dosage changes to achieve adult goals for LDL-C
[Outline]
See Supplemental Patient Information
- Biochemical abnormalities of liver function have been reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors; perform LFTs prior to initiation of therapy and when clinically indicated
- Active liver disease or persistent unexplained transaminase elevations are contraindications to pravastatin use; patients with a history of liver disease in the recent past, with signs that may suggest liver disease or those who are heavy users of alcohol should use pravastatin with caution and initiate the treatment with lower dose
- Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria have occurred; closely monitor skeletal muscle effects in patients with renal impairment
- Therapy may cause myopathy, manifested as muscle pain, tenderness or weakness along with elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels >10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). Therapy should be discontinued immediately if myopathy is diagnosed or suspected or if markedly elevated CPK levels occur
- Concomitant use of therapy with erythromycin, cyclosporine, niacin, or fibrates may increase the risk of myopathy
- Fibrates alone may occasionally cause myopathy; use of fibrates in combination with pravastatin should be avoided unless the benefit of further alterations in lipid levels is likely to outweigh the increased risk of this drug combination
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are less effective in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia because they lack functional LDL receptors
- Patients who display clinical evidence of endocrine dysfunction during therapy should be carefully evaluated
- Exercise caution when pravastatin is given to patients receiving other drugs, such as spironolactone, cimetidine, ketoconazole, that may reduce steroid hormone levels
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Renal impairment
- Hepatic impairment
Supplemental Patient Information
- Advise patients to promptly report their physicians any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially if accompanied by malaise or fever
Pregnancy Category:X
Breastfeeding: Data on pravastatin during breastfeeding is not published. May cause disruption of infant lipid metabolism; avoid use during breastfeeding. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 6 April 2011). As per manufacturer's data, a small amount of drug is excreted in breastmilk, which may cause serious adverse reaction to nursing infants; hence, contraindicated in nursing women.
US Trade Name(s)
US Availability
pravastatin (generic)
- TABS: 10, 20, 30, 40, 80 mg
Pravachol
Canadian Trade Name(s)
Canadian Availability
pravastatin (generic)
Pravachol
UK Trade Name(s)
UK Availability
pravastatin (generic)
Lipostat
Australian Trade Name(s)
- Cholstat
- Lipostat
- Liprachol
- Prava
- Pravastat
- Pravachol
- Vastoran
Australian Availability
pravastatin (generic)
Lipostat, Pravachol
Cholstat, Liprachol, Prava
Pravastat
Vastoran
[Outline]
Pricing data from www.DrugStore.com in U.S.A.
- Pravachol 80 MG TABS [Bottle] (B-M SQUIBB U.S. (PRIMARY CARE))
30 mg = $191.66
90 mg = $529.09 - Pravachol 40 MG TABS [Bottle] (B-M SQUIBB U.S. (PRIMARY CARE))
30 mg = $172.98
90 mg = $493.98 - Pravachol 20 MG TABS [Bottle] (B-M SQUIBB U.S. (PRIMARY CARE))
30 mg = $121.99
90 mg = $349.98 - Pravachol 10 MG TABS [Bottle] (B-M SQUIBB U.S. (PRIMARY CARE))
30 mg = $139.99
90 mg = $399.95
Warning: This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.