Pravachol

Pravachol is a prescription drug commonly used to treat conditions related to heart disease, such as high cholesterol and high triglycerides. It works by blocking an enzyme that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. The medication increases the liver's ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol; it also can help increase HDL cholesterol and decrease triglycerides.

Pravachol Medication

What Is Pravachol?

Pravachol^® (pravastatin sodium) is a prescription medication used for treating or preventing a number of conditions related to heart disease. Such uses include but are not limited to:

Treatment of high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia).
Treatment of high triglycerides in the blood. Triglycerides are the main storage form of fat in the body.
Prevention of heart disease and heart-related problems.

It has also been approved for use in children ages 8 to 18 years old with a certain genetic condition that causes high cholesterol.

(Click Pravachol Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes Pravachol?

It is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

How Does It Work?

Pravachol is part of a class of drugs called

statins. It works by blocking a particular enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol. It also:

Increases the liver's ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol")
Increases HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol")
Decreases triglycerides.

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