GP and surgeon, Dr Shane Charles (MBBS, MRCS, PgDip SEM) provides a simple explanation of the medication below:

'Pravastatin (Pravastatin Sodium) is a cholesterol lowering medication. '.

If you think Pravastatin is a treatment that can help you, start an online consultation now for a registered prescriber to review. If treatment is deemed suitable, they can prescribe it, and we can deliver it to you from the comfort of your own home with a range of convenient delivery and payment options for you to choose from. If you have any questions about a medication, you should always consult your doctor with any questions prior to starting treatment, to ensure that it is safe and suitable for you.

Pravastatin Sodium

Pravastatin is used together with a proper diet to lower cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. This medicine may help prevent or slow down medical problems, like atherosclerosis that are caused by fats clogging the blood vessels. It may also be used to prevent certain types of heart and blood vessel problems in patients with risk factors for heart problems.

Pravastatin belongs to a class of medicines called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins. It works by blocking an enzyme that is needed by the body to make cholesterol, so this reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood.

This medication is available in tablet form.

Pravastatin works by lowering your low-density lipoprotein or LDL, also referred to as the bad cholesterol and raising your good cholesterol – the high-density lipoprotein or HDL. Pravastatin improves your body’s ability to get rid of your LDL cholesterol through your liver.

Pravastatin Uses

The benefits of using Pravastatin include the lowering of your low-density lipoprotein, popularly known as the bad cholesterol. In addition to lowering the bad cholesterol. Pravastatin raises the level of your high-density lipoprotein or good cholesterol. The overall benefit of using Pravastatin is the improvement of your body’s ability to get rid of your bad cholesterol through your liver.

Pravastatin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Pravastatin is usually taken once a day with or without a meal.

Take Pravastatin at around the same time every day to help you remember taking your dose. Follow the direction on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor to explain any part that you do not understand. Take Pravastatin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of Pravastatin and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 4 weeks.

Continue to take Pravastatin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Pravastatin without talking to your doctor.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor for more information.

If you missed a dose of Pravastatin, take it as soon as you remember. However, it is almost time for the next dose, just skip the missed dose and continue taking the next regular dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Pravastatin Dosage

The usual dose of Pravastatin is once daily. Your doctor will start you with the lowest dose of Pravastatin and gradually increase it over time.

Your dose of the medication is based on your medical condition, your age, your response to the medication, and other medications that you are currently taking.

Medicines and their possible side effects affect individual users differently. Not everyone who uses Pravastatin will experience the possible side effects.

Pravastatin Side Effects

Pravastatin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or persist:

• A headache
• Heartburn
• Memory loss
• Confusion

Some side effects of Pravastatin can be serious. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:

• Muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness
• Lack of energy
• Fever
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Pain in the upper right part of the stomach
• Nausea
• Extreme tiredness
• Weakness
• Dark colored urine
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Loss of appetite
• Flu-like symptoms
• Hives
• Rash
• Itching
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Hoarseness

Pravastatin may cause other side effects. Report to your doctor if you experience any other side effects which you believe are associated with Pravastatin.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to Pravastatin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in Pravastatin tablets.

Tell your doctor if you have had liver disease. Your doctor will order laboratory tests to see how well your liver is working even if you do not think that you have liver disease. Your doctor will probably ask you to not take Pravastatin if you have liver disease or if the tests show that you may be developing liver disease.

Inform your doctor if you drink more than two alcoholic beverages per day, if you are over 65 years old, if you have ever had liver disease or if you have or have ever had low blood pressure, muscle aches or weakness, seizures, or thyroid or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while you are taking this medication. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that you can use during your treatment. If you become pregnant while taking Pravastatin, stop taking the medication and call your doctor immediately. Pravastatin may harm the fetus.

Do not breastfeed while you are taking this medication.

Pravastatin oral tablets may interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the medication from working well.

Before you take Pravastatin, share with your doctor a list of all the medications you are currently taking. Find out from your doctor how Pravastatin may interact with the other drugs that you are taking.

You can safely buy Pravastatin online at UK Meds. You will first need to have an online consultation with a pharmacist independent prescriber before your order will be supplied. The online consultation will ensure that Pravastatin Sodium is the right medication for your medical condition.