Drug Uses

Pravachol 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.

How Taken

Use Pravachol as directed by your doctor. Take Pravachol with or without a meal. It is recommended to take Pravachol at the same time each day. Take Pravachol 1 hour before or 4 hours after taking bile–acid reducing resins (e.g., cholestyramine, colestipol).

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. However if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the Missed Dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

More Information

Pravachol may cause dizziness or blurred vision. These effects may worsen if Pravachol is taken with alcohol or certain other medications. Use Pravachol with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to this drug. If your symptoms do not improve or if they worsen, contact your doctor. Pravachol should be used only by the patient for whom it has been prescribed. Do not take less or more or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor

Storage

Store Pravachol at 77 °F (25 °C), excursions permitted to 59 to 86 °F (15 to 30 °C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Pravachol out of the reach of children.

Warnings/Precautions

Before taking Pravachol, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if you have allergies to medicines, if you are allergic to any ingredient in Pravachol, 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 regularly consume large amounts of alcohol, if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast–feeding. Do not use Pravachol if you are pregnant. If you suspect that you could be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately. Pravachol is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast–feed while taking Pravachol. Some medicines may interact with Pravachol. Therefore tell your doctor of all prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement that you are taking. Do not tale Pravachol you have liver disease, abnormal liver tests or you are taking fibric acids (e.g., gemfibrozil, fenofibrate). For best results, Pravachol should be used along with exercise, a low–cholesterol/low–fat diet, and a weight loss program if you are overweight. Before having any kind of surgery, tell your doctor that you are taking 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.

Disclaimer

This is only general information, it does not cover all directions, drug integrations or precautions. You should not rely on it for any purpose, it does not contain any specific instructions for a particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information. We`re not responsible for any damage.

Possible Side Effects

Some of the Possible Side Effects are- 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. Contact your doctor if any of these or other side effects occur. If you experience any of the following serious side effects, you should seek medical attention immediately- 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.