Pravachol

Pravachol is used for:

Lowering high cholesterol and triglycerides in certain patients. It also increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL, "good") cholesterol levels. It is used along with an appropriate diet. It is also used in certain patients to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to coronary heart disease. It is also used to slow blood vessel blockage and to reduce the need for medical procedures to open blocked blood vessels. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Pravachol is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, also known as a "statin." It works by reducing the production of certain fatty substances in the body, including cholesterol.

Do NOT use Pravachol if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Pravachol
• you have liver problems or unexplained abnormal liver function tests
• you are pregnant or breast-feeding

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Pravachol :

Some medical conditions may interact with Pravachol . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are planning to become pregnant
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have low blood pressure, a serious infection, kidney problems, diabetes, muscle pain or tenderness, or a history of seizures
• if you have metabolism, hormonal, or electrolyte problems
• if you drink alcohol, have jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or have a history of liver problems or alcohol abuse
• if you have recently had major surgery or a serious injury
• if you have a certain type of high cholesterol (homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Pravachol . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), fibrates (eg, gemfibrozil, clofibrate), fluconazole, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), immunosuppressants (eg, cyclosporine), macrolides (eg, erythromycin), niacin, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (eg, delavirdine), telithromycin, or voriconazole because they may increase the risk of muscle or kidney problems
• Cimetidine or spironolactone because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Pravachol

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Pravachol may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.