Cholesterol Articles A-Z
Depression is a side effect that occurs in less than 1 percent of people taking Pravachol. This eMedTV article discusses Pravachol and depression, including a list of possible symptoms, such as persistent sadness and decreased energy.
If you are taking Pravachol and joint pain occurs, there are at-home remedies you can use for pain relief. This eMedTV resource offers suggestions for treating joint pain, such as over-the-counter pain relief drugs, moist or dry heat, and cold packs.
Liver problems such as jaundice or hepatitis can occur as side effects of Pravachol and other statins. This eMedTV article offers an overview of Pravachol and liver problems, including a list of several symptoms that may indicate liver problems.
Memory loss occurs in less than 1 percent of patients taking Pravachol. This part of the eMedTV library offers an in-depth look at Pravachol and memory loss, including information on the research that has been done on memory loss and statins.
Muscle aches occur in more than 1 percent of patients taking Pravachol. This eMedTV article provides an overview of Pravachol and muscle aches, including a list of drug interactions that can increase your risk of developing serious muscle problems.
Muscle pain is a common side effect of Pravachol. As this eMedTV segment explains, it occurs in about 3 percent of people taking the drug. This page offers detailed information on the link between Pravachol and muscle pain.
Pravachol can pose serious risks to an unborn child, so it is not recommended during pregnancy. This eMedTV article offers detailed information on Pravachol and pregnancy, including an explanation of how the pregnancy category system works.
Weight gain does not appear to be a side effect of Pravachol. This selection from the eMedTV archives offers information on Pravachol and weight gain, including tips on what to do if weight gain occurs while taking this drug.
As this eMedTV article explains, the average daily Pravachol dosage for the treatment of high cholesterol in adults is 10 mg to 80 mg. This page also offers dosage recommendations for children and offers tips and precautions for taking the medicine.
There are a number of Pravachol drug interactions that can cause serious side effects or complications. This eMedTV article contains a list of drugs (such as danazol, fibrates, and niacin) that may interact with Pravachol.
Pravachol Precautions and Warnings
As this eMedTV page explains, statins (such as Pravachol) have the potential to cause side effects, such as an increase in liver enzymes. This page covers other Pravachol precautions and warnings, including information on who shouldn't take the drug.
Pravachol side effects may include headache, common cold, and constipation. This eMedTV resource provides a list of common and uncommon side effects of Pravachol, and also talks about the side effects that require immediate medical attention.
Pravachol uses include the treatment of high cholesterol and high triglycerides, among other things. This eMedTV segment offers an in-depth look at these and other uses of Pravachol, including the prevention of heart disease.
Precautions and Warnings of Lovastatin
If you have kidney damage and are taking lovastatin, you are at risk of developing serious muscle problems. This eMedTV page lists other precautions and warnings of lovastatin, including information on who shouldn't take the drug.
Precautions and Warnings With Cholestyramine
This eMedTV page offers precautions and warnings with Cholestyramine, including potential side effects and who should not take the drug. People with hemorrhoids, constipation, or gallstones should tell their doctor before starting Cholestyramine.
Precautions and Warnings With Fenofibrate
Those who have severe kidney or liver disease should not take fenofibrate. This eMedTV page offers other precautions and warnings with fenofibrate, including a list of people who are not suitable for the drug and possible side effects that may occur.
It may not be safe to use red yeast rice products during pregnancy. This eMedTV resource further discusses red yeast rice and pregnancy, explaining why a certain component of red yeast rice may cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy.
Prevalite is a medicine used to treat high cholesterol and itching caused by partial biliary obstruction. This eMedTV resource explains how the drug works and offers information on its uses, effects, and dosing guidelines.
Prevalite alternatives may include other bile acid sequestrants or other types of cholesterol medicines. As this eMedTV resource explains, other cholesterol drugs may include statins, fibrates, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, and niacin.
As this page on the eMedTV Web site explains, the connection between Prevalite and pregnancy has not been studied in humans. In pregnant animal studies, however, the drug was shown to potentially cause harm to the fetus.
This eMedTV segment offers Prevalite dosage guidelines and tips for taking the medicine. The suggested starting dose is one packet or one level scoopful once or twice a day, taken at the same time every day with meals.
Potential Prevalite drug interactions may include digoxin, thyroid medicines, and ezetimibe. As this eMedTV article explains, these interactions can cause the drugs to bind in the intestines and decrease their absorption into the body.
Prevalite Precautions and Warnings
The most commonly reported side effect of Prevalite is constipation. This page of the eMedTV library offers other Prevalite precautions and warnings, including other potential side effects that may occur and who should not take the medication.
Common Prevalite side effects may include gas, stomach discomfort, and diarrhea. This eMedTV page also lists serious side effects that require medical attention, as well as rare but possible problems that may occur, such as joint pain or weight loss.
Prevalite uses include the treatment of high cholesterol and itching caused by partial biliary obstruction. This eMedTV article explains these uses in more detail, discusses uses for the drug in children, and describes off-label uses.
Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, can raise HDL (the "good cholesterol"). This eMedTV resource outlines lifestyle changes, such as exercising more, that can be used to raise this type of cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Raising HDL levels above 60 mg/dL can protect against heart disease and heart attack. The information in this eMedTV article highlights how lifestyle changes and certain medications can be effective in increasing HDL levels in the blood.
This portion of the eMedTV library explains that some red yeast rice products are considered "unapproved drugs" because they contain a potent cholesterol-lowering medicine called lovastatin. Red rice yeast is a common variation of red yeast rice.
Some common side effects of red yeast rice include heartburn, gas, and dizziness. This eMedTV page also covers which side effects may require prompt medical care. Red rice yeast side effects is a common misspelling of red yeast rice side effects.
Red yeast rice may help lower cholesterol because it can contain large amounts of lovastatin. This eMedTV Web page offers an overview of red yeast rice, including information on how the product is fermented, possible side effects, and precautions.
Red Yeast Rice and Breastfeeding
This selection from the eMedTV Web site explains that women should not take red yeast rice when breastfeeding. Red yeast rice may contain lovastatin, a prescription cholesterol medication that can cause serious problems when used while breastfeeding.
As this eMedTV page explains, the red yeast rice dosage that was used in studies for treating high cholesterol was 1200 mg twice daily. This page offers other red yeast rice dosing information, including why it may be unsafe to use this product.
Red Yeast Rice Drug Interactions
Certain antibiotics, fibrates, and grapefruit juice can negatively interact with red yeast rice. This eMedTV resource lists other substances that can cause red yeast rice drug interactions and describes the complications these interactions may cause.
This eMedTV Web presentation looks at red yeast rice extract. Information covered includes its benefits, possible side effects, interactions, and much more.
This eMedTV Web page explains that the exact effects of a red yeast rice overdose are not known. However, as this article discusses, red yeast rice products may contain contaminants that can cause serious problems in the case of an overdose.
Heartburn, gas, and dizziness are possible side effects that may occur when taking red yeast rice. This eMedTV resource discusses other possible red yeast rice side effects, including those that may require immediate medical attention.
Ways to reduce cholesterol include making lifestyle changes, such as becoming more physically active and losing weight. As this eMedTV article explains, other ways to reduce cholesterol involve taking medications, such as statins or fibrates.
Lowering your cholesterol can reduce your risk of having a heart attack. This eMedTV segment discusses several steps you can take to lower your cholesterol levels. Reducing cholesteral is a common misspelling and variation of lowering cholesterol.
Strategies for reducing cholesterol include lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or changing your diet. As this eMedTV page points out, several medications can help in reducing cholesterol as well, including statins, fibrates, and nicotinic acid.
Red yeast rice may increase liver enzymes and can severely break down muscle tissue. This eMedTV Web article takes an in-depth look at other risks of red yeast rice and explains why the FDA considers red yeast rice to be an "unapproved drug."
Side Effects of Cholestyramine
Common side effects of Cholestyramine may include indigestion, burping, and loss of appetite. This eMedTV page contains a list of other possible problems, including rare but possible side effects, such as asthma, joint pain, or weight gain.
Common side effects of fenofibrate include nausea, back pain, and body weakness. This eMedTV resource lists other potential side effects, including serious but rare problems such as allergic reactions, infections, and pancreatitis.
This eMedTV article explores possible side effects of policosanol, including dizziness, upset stomach, and weight loss. This page also discusses more serious side effects, such as signs of internal bleeding and allergic reactions to the supplement.
Signs and Symptoms of High Cholesterol
Because there are no noticeable signs and symptoms of high cholesterol, it is important to have your cholesterol tested. This eMedTV Web page describes how the condition can cause health problems, without any signs and symptoms of high cholesterol.
Staying on Your High Cholesterol Medication
This eMedTV article offers tips for staying on your high cholesterol medication, such as asking a friend to remind you. By staying on your high cholesterol medication, you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease or heart attack.
Several studies on stress and high cholesterol indicate that long-term stress can raise blood cholesterol levels, albeit indirectly. This eMedTV segment explores the relationship between stress and high cholesterol and offers stress management tips.
Fluvastatin, pravastatin, and lovastatin are among the drugs that can substitute for Zocor. As this eMedTV page explains, people who experience side effects with Zocor may want to consider a Zocor substitute.
People with elevated cholesterol levels do not often experience symptoms of high cholesterol for years. As this eMedTV resource explains, even though there are no noticeable symptoms of high cholesterol, the condition can still be life threatening.
Tricor is a prescription drug licensed to lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels. This eMedTV page provides information about how Tricor works and how and when to take it, and also lists some side effects and precautions and warnings with Tricor.