pravastatin sodium
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this Leaflet
The information in this leaflet will answer some of the questions you may have about PRAVACHOL. This leaflet does not tell you everything about the medicine.
Your doctor and pharmacist have been provided with full information and can answer any questions you may have.
This leaflet is no substitute for talking with your doctor or pharmacist. You should follow all advice from your doctor when being treated with this medicine.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns about taking this medicine.
You should read this leaflet carefully before starting PRAVACHOL and keep it in a safe place to refer to later.
What is it used for
PRAVACHOL is used to treat people who have had a heart attack or an episode of unstable angina, or who have high blood cholesterol levels. In these people PRAVACHOL can reduce the risk of further heart disease, reduce the possibility of needing a bypass operation, or reduce the risk of having a stroke.
It lowers high blood cholesterol levels (Doctors call this hypercholesterolaemia). It is also used if your cholesterol levels are normal if you have had a heart attack or an episode of unstable angina.
It is used to treat heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia in children and adolescent patients aged 8 years and older as an adjunct to diet and lifestyle changes.
If you have had a heart attack, an episode of unstable angina or you have too much cholesterol in your blood, then you have an increased risk of a blood clot forming in your blood vessels and causing a blockage. Blood vessels that become blocked in this way can lead to further heart disease, angina or stroke.
PRAVACHOL may be used to lower lipids in heart or kidney transplant patients, who are also being given immunosuppressive medicine.
It is used to treat long-term (chronic) conditions so it is important that you take your PRAVACHOL every day.
It is not addictive or habit forming.
It is only available upon prescription from your doctor.
How does it work
PRAVACHOL tablets contain pravastatin sodium, a drug that reduces the level of cholesterol in your blood and helps to protect you in other ways from heart attack or stroke. It is more effective if it is taken with a diet low in fat.
Before I take it
Before taking PRAVACHOL, you should be aware of the following:
You should not take it
- if you are or may become pregnant
- if you are breast feeding
- if you have ever had an allergic reaction to pravastatin sodium or any other ingredient listed at the end of this leaflet
- if you have ever had liver disease
- if you have had muscle pain from any other medicine used to treat high cholesterol
Do not give your medicine to any one else even if they have the same condition as you have.
Before you take it
You must tell your doctor if:
- you are taking other medicines or treatment
- you drink alcohol regularly
- you have ever had liver problems
- you have a problem with your kidneys
- you are or may become pregnant
- you are breastfeeding
- you suffer from hormonal disorders
- you suffer from central nervous system vascular lesions
- you suffer from allergies
- you suffer from homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, (a doctor will have told you this)
- you have increased triglycerides in your blood (a doctor will have told you this also)
- you suffer from muscle disease (including pain, tenderness or weakness).
Taking other medicines
Some medicines can affect the way PRAVACHOL works.
You should always tell your doctor about any other medicines you take, even those bought without a doctor’s prescription.
It is especially important that you tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
- any other medicine to lower cholesterol
- cyclosporin
- ketoconazole
- spironolactone
- cimetidine
- gemfibrozil
- cholestyramine and colestipol
- antacids
- Macrolides
- Propanol
- Bile acid sequestrants
- Digoxin
- Warfarin or other Coumarin anticoagulants
Please discuss any of these with your doctor if you need to take any of them.
It generally does not interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery. However some people may experience dizziness, so you should be sure how you react to PRAVACHOL before you drive a car, or operate machinery.
How to take it
How much to take
PRAVACHOL should only be used as directed by your doctor. Your doctor will decide on the dose, this will depend on many factors including your cholesterol level. The dose for lowering cholesterol is 10 – 80mg, and is 40mg for reducing the possibility of a stroke or heart attack.
The recommended dose is 20 mg once daily for children 8 – 13 years of age and 40 mg once daily in adolescents 14 – 18 years of age, with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia.
How to take it
Take PRAVACHOL once a day in the evening before bed-time.
For best results, take PRAVACHOL on an empty stomach (ie. two or more hours after your last meal).
Take PRAVACHOL at about the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect and will also help you remember when to take it.
If you forget to take it
If you forget to take a dose of PRAVACHOL, take the next dose normally at your usual time.
Side Effects
All medicines, including PRAVACHOL, can sometimes cause unwanted effects. This is not an exhaustive list.
The most common side effects are:
- upset stomach
- nausea
- diarrhoea
- wind
- constipation
- headache
- dizziness.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you have any of these side effects or any other problem while taking PRAVACHOL.
Your doctor may arrange blood tests.
You must tell your doctor immediately, or go to the hospital, if you suffer any of the following:
- unexplained muscle pain
- tenderness
- weakness.
It is also possible to suffer from an allergic reaction to PRAVACHOL, so tell your doctor if you develop a skin rash or itchiness, fever, joint pain or shortness of breath.
In few cases, statins have been reported to induce de novo or aggravate pre-existing myasthenia gravis or ocular myasthenia.
If you take too much (Overdose)
Call your doctor immediately if you or someone else has taken too much PRAVACHOL.
If your doctor is not available call your nearest hospital or a Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.
Storage
Store PRAVACHOL in a cool dry place, and keep the tablets in the blister until it is time to take them.
Store PRAVACHOL below 25°C, and protect from light and moisture.
The expiry date is printed on the pack. Do not take it after the expiry date or if the tablets have changed in appearance colour or taste.
Ask your pharmacist about disposal of unused tablets.
Keep all medicines out of reach of children.
Product description
What it looks like
Pravachol 10mg tablet – engraved ‘10’. AUST R 68706
Pravachol 20mg tablet – engraved ‘20’. AUST R 68704
Pravachol 40mg tablet – engraved ‘40’. AUST R 58075
Pravachol 80mg tablet – engraved ‘80’. AUST R 101491
Pravachol tablets are yellow capsule shaped tablets supplied in blister packs containing 30 tablets per pack.
Active ingredients
Pravachol 10mg tablets – 10mg pravastatin sodium
Pravachol 20mg tablets – 20mg pravastatin sodium
Pravachol 40mg tablets – 40mg pravastatin sodium
Pravachol 80mg tablets – 80mg pravastatin sodium
Inactive ingredients
PRAVACHOL tablets also contain lactose, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, magnesium oxide and iron oxide-yellow.
Contains sugars as lactose.
Sponsor & Distributor
Arrow Pharma Pty Ltd
15 – 17 Chapel Street
Cremorne Victoria 3121
This leaflet was revised in October 2023.
Published by MIMS December 2023
