Pravastatin is a medication used to manage hypercholesteremia (high cholesterol levels in your blood). It is used to prevent atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty plaque in your blood vessels), a heart attack and stroke. According to MedlinePlus, pravastatin belongs to a class of medicines called statins and it serves to block cholesterol production. The recommended initial dose of pravastatin is 40 milligrams daily or as your doctor prescribes.
Common Side Effects
In a short-term placebo-controlled trial of 900 patients treated with 10 to 40 milligrams of pravastatin, the National Library of Medicine reports that 1.3 percent of patients developed a rash, 2.9 percent experienced nausea and vomiting, 2.0 percent experienced diarrhea, 2.4 percent had constipation, 2.7 percent had flatulence and 2.0 percent experienced heartburn. Of this same study, 1.9 percent had fatigue, 1.7 percent had headache and 1.0 percent developed dizziness, 0.1 percent experienced a cough and 0.1 had rhinitis.
Harmful Side Effects
According to MedlinePlus, pravastatin's serious side effects include muscle pain or weakness, chest pain, fever and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin). Other detrimental side effects include fatigue, poor appetite, hives, skin rash, itching, trouble breathing and swelling of your throat, face, lips and throat. Call 911 if you have these side effects.
According to the National Library of Medicine, pravastatin can also cause rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of skeletal muscle that leads to such symptoms as muscle pain and tenderness). When skeletal muscles breakdown, it can release myoglobin (a substance in muscles). Myoglobin can filter into your kidneys and cause kidney failure.
Other Side Effects
According to the National Library of Medicine, other side effects include heartburn, flatulence (gas), dizziness, trouble sleeping and depression. Pravastatin can also cause trouble sleeping, anxiety, nervousness, lung infections and blurry or double vision. It can also cause dry skin, hives, hair loss, fever and flushing. Other side effects include vertigo, cataracts (cloudy of your eye lenses), tremors and edema (swelling) of your head or neck.
Other Cancers
Avoid Pravastatin if you are hypersensitive (allergic) to its components. You may develop trouble breathing, hives and swelling of your face, lips or throat.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. According to the National Library of Medicine, pravastatin blocks cholesterol production necessary for fetal development.
Avoid such medications as cimetidine, ketoconazole and gemfibrizol. These medications can interact with pravastatin and cause the aforementioned side effects.
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