The increase in lipid levels in the blood arises as a result of bad eating habits due to the intake of carbohydrates, mainly refined ones, and the low consumption of antioxidants in food.
In view of this and with the intention of preventing diseases that can deteriorate human health, science, together with the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, develops drugs to balance the values of lipid components in the blood and one of them is pravastatin.
For this reason, in this article, we present you with all the information you need to know about this medication, its main characteristics and under what circumstances your doctor can prescribe it for you.
What is pravastatin?
Pravastatin is a synthetic medication , made to control cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.
Its active principle is pravastatin sodium , the chemical compound belonging to the statin family (or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors), with lipid-lowering properties, whose mechanism of action is based on the reduction of cholesterol production in the liver. , because it blocks an enzyme that helps in its preparation. (1)
The commercial presentation of this medicine is in a 20 mg and 40 mg tablet . Its administration is orally with water and without chewing and the recommended dose in adults is 10 mg to 40 mg per day, preferably at night to reduce high levels of cholesterol in the blood.
You should know: After organ transplants, your doctor may prescribe 20 mg a day of pravastatin to prevent dyslipidemia.
What is pravastatin used for?
As we have mentioned, pravastatin is mainly used to regulate altered values of lipids in the blood (hypercholesterolemia) and is indicated in the following cases:
1. Reduction of cholesterol and triglycerides
The presence of high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood can give rise to the formation and accumulation of fatty plaques on the walls of blood vessels, called atheromas (2) .
These atheromas obstruct the free circulation of blood, causing conditions such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and, in more serious cases, heart attacks.
To highlight: Some scientific articles describe the use of pravastatin to prevent coronary artery disease. (3)
2. Prevention of cardiovascular disorders
Following the previous context, the reduction of dyslipidemic values helps in the prevention of cardiovascular disorders such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and aortic aneurysm. (4)
Note: Certain clinical studies support the use of pravastatin in the elderly for the prevention of coronary heart disease. (5)
3. Reduction of post-transplant hyperlipidemia
The effect of increased dyslipidemia after heart transplants has been a concern in medical science, becoming an important risk factor in the rejection of transplanted organs .
You should know: It has been proven that the use of pravastatin is an effective and safe therapy in people with dyslipidemic heart transplants. (6)
pravastatin side effects
Treatment with pravastatin may cause some of the following adverse effects in certain patients:
- Allergy due to contact with any component of pravastatin.
- Renal insufficiency or possible liver function disorder.
- Appearance of dizziness, tiredness, headache, sleep disorders ( insomnia ).
- Possible gastrointestinal disorders such as indigestion, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain .
- Muscular weakness.
- Administration with other drugs such as erythromycin or cyclosporine may increase the risk of myopathy.
- It can cause damage in the formation of the fetus.
Important: Notify your doctor immediately if, while using this medicine, you notice the appearance of any of these symptoms or any other not included in the list.
contraindications of pravastatin
The use of this drug is contraindicated in any of the following cases:
- Hypersensitivity to any of the components of pravastatin.
- If you are using other medicines to lower cholesterol levels such as nicotinic acid.
- In women during the period of pregnancy and lactation.
- in a patient with hypothyroidism.
To highlight: It is advisable to review your medical history with your doctor before starting treatment with pravastatin.
Key Findings
- Pravastatin is a synthetic medicine indicated for the treatment of high values of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
- Its active ingredient is pravastatin sodium, a chemical compound that acts as a lipid-lowering agent.
- It is indicated for the treatment of dyslipidemia, prevention of cardiovascular disorders and the reduction of post-transplant hyperlipidemia.
- Its administration and dosage must be under the supervision of a specialist doctor.
