APO-Pravastatin general information

What is APO-Pravastatin used for?

APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg are used to lower high levels of cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood to reduce health risks associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), including heart attack and angina that can be caused by high cholesterol.  There are usually no symptoms associated with high cholesterol, which may be due to lifestyle (high-fat diet and lack of exercise) or can be inherited (familial hypercholesterolaemia) and is not always lifestyle dependent.  APO-Pravastatin 20 is used in conjunction with a low-fat diet, when lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) are not sufficient to lower total and LDL-cholesterol in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia, without clinical evidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), to reduce risk of CHD and reduce the need for surgery; also to slow the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and to treat patients with a history of stroke, to reduce the need for surgery and reduce the risk of stroke or peripheral vascular disease.  APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg are also used to treat patients who have already had a heart attack or have unstable angina, to reduce the risk of another heart attack or stroke, regardless of cholesterol levels.  APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg are also used to help increase chances of survival in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy following heart transplant when there is a risk of hyperlipidaemia (increased blood fats); and to reduce the risk of acute rejection in kidney transplant patients. 

How does APO-Pravastatin work?

APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg contain pravastatin, which belongs to a group of cholesterol-lowing medications called statins.  Cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions such as building cell membranes, producing certain hormones and transporting fat soluble vitamins around the body, however, if there is more cholesterol than the body needs, it becomes deposited in the artery walls where it can build up and harden, blocking the arteries and increasing risk of heart disease.  Pravastatin in APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg reduces the production of cholesterol in the liver, by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.  This action lowers levels of total cholesterol in the blood as well as reducing “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause arteries to become hardened and blocked, and also increases levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries.  APO-Pravastatin 20 only blocks cholesterol that is produced in the liver and has no effect on cholesterol that comes from fat in food, which is why a low-fat diet is important even when you are taking APO-Pravastatin 20. 

What does APO-Pravastatin contain?

APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg contains the active ingredient pravastatin sodium, a cholesterol-lowing medication belonging to the group of drugs called statins.  They also contain lactose monohydrate , microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, croscarmellose sodium, Iron oxide yellow

Treating high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) with APO-Pravastatin

APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg contain the cholesterol-lowing statin medication pravastatin, which is used to lower levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood to reduce health risks associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), including heart attack and angina that can be caused by high cholesterol.  Cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions such as building cell membranes, producing certain hormones and transporting fat soluble vitamins around the body, however, if there is more cholesterol than the body needs, it becomes deposited in the artery walls where it can build up, blocking the arteries and increasing risk of heart disease.  Pravastatin in APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg reduces the production of cholesterol in the liver, by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.  This action lowers levels of total cholesterol in the blood as well as reducing “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause arteries to become hardened and blocked, and also increases levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries.  APO-Pravastatin 20 only blocks cholesterol that is produced in the liver and has no effect on cholesterol that comes from fat in food, which is why a low-fat diet is important even when you are taking APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg. 

What are the side effects of APO-Pravastatin?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg include: constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, bladder problems, skin rash, itching.  More serious side effects are less common and may include tingling in the hands or feet (paraesthesia), muscle and joint pain.

When should APO-Pravastatin not be used?

You should not use APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg if you:

• are allergic to pravastatin or any other statin or any ingredients in APO-Pravastatin
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• are taking medicines that interact with APO-Pravastatin including: other lipid-lowering medications like gemfibrozil, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, the antibiotics erythromycin or clarithromycin

How should APO-Pravastatin be taken?

You should take your APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg with a glass of water once a day, preferably in the evening after your evening meal, although you can take APO-Pravastatin 20 with or without food.  APO-Pravastatin 20 is most effective at night when your body is resting and your liver is producing the most cholesterol.  Your doctor may recommend that you start on a lower dose and then increase your dose to 20mg which is the maximum dose.  You should see your cholesterol levels fall to within normal limits within 4 weeks, but you should continue to take APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life as APO-Pravastatin 20 helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high but if you stop taking APO-Pravastatin 20, your cholesterol levels may rise again. 

How long should you take APO-Pravastatin?

You should see your cholesterol levels fall to within normal limits within 4 weeks, but you should continue to take APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life as APO-Pravastatin 20 helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high but if you stop taking APO-Pravastatin 20, your cholesterol levels may rise again. 

Missed dose of APO-Pravastatin

If you miss a dose of APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should APO-Pravastatin be stored?

You should store your APO-Pravastatin tablets 20mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.