pravachol

(Pravastatin Sodium)

This medicine is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (also known as a "statin") used in combination with a low-cholesterol and low-fat diet to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and to raise good cholesterol (HDL) levels in your blood. It may also be used in certain children and adolescents over 8 years of age who have a genetically caused cholesterol problem. This medicine is not a cure for high cholesterol, but may help to control it. This medicine may also be used in certain patients to reduce the risk of heart attack, blood vessel blockage, stroke, or death due to heart disease. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

CAUTIONS: DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you have had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE without checking with your doctor. Laboratory and/or medical tests, including blood cholesterol levels and liver function tests, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are using this medicine. BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using this medicine. This medicine may cause dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to this medicine. Using this medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE LIVER PROBLEMS. Rarely, severe and sometimes fatal liver problems have been reported in patients taking this medicine. Your risk of developing liver problems may be greater if you drink alcohol daily or in large amounts with this medicine, or if you have a history of liver problems. Check with your doctor before drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you experience symptoms of liver problems (eg, dark urine; pale stools; severe or persistent nausea, loss of appetite, or stomach pain; unusual tiredness; yellowing of the skin or eyes). MUSCLE PROBLEMS (MYOPATHY) MAY OCCUR WITH THIS MEDICINE. The risk of muscle problems may be greater in people 65 years of age or older, or in people who have kidney problems or low thyroid function. It may also be greater in those who take it with certain other medicines (eg, niacin). Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to your doctor right away, especially if you also have a fever or general body discomfort. Tell your doctor if you have muscle problems that persist even after your doctor has told you to stop taking this medicine. FOLLOW the diet and exercise program given to you by your health care provider. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING THIS MEDICINE IN THE ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine, especially serious muscle problems. FOR WOMEN: DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE if you are pregnant. It may cause harm to the fetus. AVOID becoming pregnant while you are taking it. WOMEN WHO MAY BECOME PREGNANT should use effective birth control while taking this medicine. Check with your doctor if you have questions about using birth control. IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE PREGNANT, contact your doctor immediately. THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED in breast milk. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking this medicine.