Pravachol: Uses, indications and precautions when using

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Pravachol is used with a proper diet to help lower cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and raise good cholesterol such as HDL in the blood. Pravachol works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver to help reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent stroke.

1. What does Pravachol do?

Pravachol belongs to a group of drugs called statins, which work to lower bad cholesterol and fats like LDL, triglycerides and raise good cholesterol like HDL in the blood. Pravachol works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver and reduces the risk of heart disease and helps prevent strokes and heart attacks. In addition to eating a proper diet such as a low-cholesterol diet, you need to exercise regularly, lose weight if you are overweight, and stop smoking for better effects.

2. How to use Pravachol

Pravachol is to be taken by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. The dosage will be based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and other medications you may be taking. If you also take certain other medicines to lower cholesterol such as cholestyramine or colestipol,... take them at least 1 hour before or at least 4 hours after taking Pravachol. Because these products can react and prevent the full absorption of Pravachol.
Use Pravachol regularly to get the most benefit from it. Keep using it even if you feel well until the prescribed dose is up, because most people with high cholesterol or high triglycerides don't feel sick. It may take about 4 weeks before you get the full benefit of Pravachol. Absolutely do not arbitrarily increase the dose or abuse the drug for a longer time than prescribed. This not only makes the condition improve faster, but also increases the risk of unwanted effects.

3. Undesirable effects when using Pravachol

Some undesirable effects that may occur with the use of Pravachol include:
Mild memory loss or confusion May cause or worsen diabetes. Pravachol medicine rarely causes muscle problems such as rhabdomyolysis, autoimmune myopathy, etc. However, when symptoms such as muscle pain, weakness, fever, unusual fatigue, signs appear of kidney problems, ... should immediately notify the medical staff. Pravachol can cause liver problems and be careful when you have symptoms such as yellow eyes, yellow skin, dark urine, heaviness in the stomach, nausea, persistent vomiting,... Before prescribing Doctors always weigh the benefits of Pravachol more than the risk of side effects. However, some cases when using Pravachol can still occur unwanted effects. Therefore, when unusual signs appear, especially when an allergic reaction occurs with accompanying symptoms such as rash, difficulty breathing, severe dizziness, itching or swelling of the face, tongue, and throat ,... In this case, the patient should immediately notify the medical staff for immediate intervention.

4. Some notes when using Pravachol

Some notes when using Pravachol include:
Report a history of allergy to Pravachol or any other allergies. The product may contain inactive drug ingredients and may cause allergic reactions or other serious problems. Inform your medical history, especially liver disease, kidney disease, alcohol use, etc. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all medicinal products you are taking. Uses include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Limit the use of stimulants and alcoholic beverages. Daily alcohol use can increase your risk of liver problems, especially when combined with Pravachol. The elderly may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially muscle problems. Therefore, use Pravachol with caution in the elderly. Pravachol should not be used during pregnancy, because Pravachol can harm an unborn baby. Therefore, it is important to prevent pregnancy during treatment, discuss with your doctor about effective methods of contraception such as using condoms, birth control pills, etc. Pravachol may go into the body. breast milk and adverse effects on the neonate. Breastfeeding while using the drug is not recommended. Certain tests such as cholesterol and triglyceride levels should be performed periodically to monitor response to treatment or check for undesirable effects. If you forget to take a dose of Pravachol, take it again as soon as possible. However, if the time you remember the missed dose is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the same time as the original dosing schedule. Absolutely do not use twice the dose of the drug than the treatment regimen. Overdosing on Pravachol can cause serious symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, ...

5. Drug interactions

Drug interactions can decrease the effect of Pravachol, or increase the effect of unwanted effects. Tell your doctor about all other medicinal products you are using, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Do not stop, start, or change the dose of any medicine without your doctor's consent.
Some medicinal products that interact with Pravachol include:
Colchicine Daptomycin Gemfibrozil Red yeast rice because some red yeast rice products contain a statin called lovastatin, which can increase your risk of serious muscle and liver problems important.

6. How to store Pravachol

Store Pravachol at room temperature, away from moisture and light. Do not store Pravachol in a humid place or in the freezer. Each medicine will have different storage methods, so read the Pravachol storage instructions carefully on the package, or ask your pharmacist. Keep Pravachol out of the reach of children and family pets. When the medicine has expired or cannot be used anymore, dispose of the medicine properly. Do not arbitrarily dispose of Pravachol in an environment such as a water pipe or toilet unless requested to do so. Ask your waste disposal company or pharmacist for advice on how to safely dispose of Pravachol to help protect the environment.
In a nutshell, the drug Pravachol belongs to a group of drugs known as statins, which work to lower bad cholesterol and fats such as LDL, triglycerides and increase good cholesterol such as HDL in the blood. Pravachol works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver and reduces the risk of heart disease and helps prevent strokes and heart attacks. However, Pravachol can cause some unwanted effects and drug interactions, so tell your doctor what medicinal products you are taking to reduce the risk of side effects and increase the effectiveness of the treatment. treatment course.
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Reference source: webmd.com