Pravastatin belongs to a class of medications called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, more commonly known as statins. Pravastatin, sold as Pravachol, is, along with other statins, one of the most widely prescribed medications in the United States. Pravastatin works by lowering certain lipid levels in the blood, which, along with diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Reducing Lipid Levels
Pravastatin lowers LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, the American College of Cardiology reports. In a large clinical trial called the LIPID study, which studied people with existing heart disease, but normal total cholesterol levels, pravastatin reduced total cholesterol levels by 19 percent, LDL levels by 27 percent and triglycerides by 13 percent, the Jewish Hospital states. Pravastatin also increased HDL, the "good" cholesterol, by 3 percent. Apolipoprotein B, which promotes the formation of atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in the blood vessels walls, decreased by 19 percent.
Studies reported by Drugs.com also note a drop in LDL of up to 37 percent after six weeks, compared to no change in those taking a placebo.
Preventing Primary Heart Disease
Pravastatin is also prescribed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke. Pravastatin studies to assess the effect of the drug on preventing heart disease show that the drug does lower the risk. Japanese studies of almost 4,000 patients without known heart disease, but with high cholesterol were randomly assigned to groups treated with pravastatin and diet or diet alone. The group treated with diet alone experienced 101 incidences of heart disease compared with 66 in the pravastatin and diet group, a 2006 study reported in an article in "The Lancet" by lead author Haruo Nakamura, M.D. found.
A large Scottish study found that pravastatin reduced the risk of death from coronary disease or non-fatal heart attack in men with elevated LDL levels but no history of heart attack by 31 percent, with a 40 percent risk in those under age 55, and a 27 percent risk reduction in those over 55, Drugs.com reports.
Treating Existing Heart Disease
Pravastatin also benefits people who have already had one cardiovascular event such as heart attack. In the LIPID study, which included over 9,000 people who had already experienced one heart attack or who had unstable angina, indicating heart disease, pravastatin also reduced the risk of further heart attack or stroke compared to placebo, Drugs. com reports. Mortality was reduced by 23 percent, with the risk of stroke overall dropping by 19 percent. The need for revascularization procedures such as CABG was reduced by 20 percent, Drugs. com adds.
A study of over 4,000 patients found a greater reduction of coronary events in women and those with high LDL levels, and a reduction in stroke by 31 percent, the Jewish Hospital reports.
References
- Drugs.com: Pravachol
- The Jewish Hospital: Role of LDL Cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and Triglycerides in thePrevention of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke
- "The Lancet":Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with Pravastatin in Japan: H Nakamura, 2006
- American College of Cardiology: Pravastatin
