Pravachol® (Pravastatin Sodium) for Cholesterol and Heart Risk Reduction

What Pravastatin Sodium Is and How It Works

Pravastatin sodium is an HMG‑CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) used to lower LDL cholesterol, non‑HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, and to modestly raise HDL. It helps reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular events in people with high cholesterol or existing heart disease. It is available as oral tablets in strengths such as 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg. If you are comparing pravastatin sodium price, YouDrugstore offers Canadian pharmacy pricing to help lower out‑of‑pocket costs, including for those buying without insurance.

YouDrugstore is a licensed Canadian pharmacy headquartered in Manitoba; prescriptions are reviewed by licensed pharmacists before dispensing.

We also source through licensed, vetted international partner pharmacies so you can access authentic brand medications alongside generics, with wide selection and affordable pricing.

Pravastatin works in the liver by blocking the rate‑limiting step of cholesterol synthesis. This decreases hepatic cholesterol, upregulates LDL receptors, and increases clearance of LDL particles from the blood. Compared with some statins, pravastatin has fewer CYP450 interactions because it is not extensively metabolized by CYP enzymes. It is taken by mouth once daily, with or without food. Many patients take it in the evening, but it can be taken at a consistent time of day that fits the routine.

Dosage and Usage

• Adults often start at 40 mg once daily. Some start at 10–20 mg if older, on interacting drugs, or with renal impairment.
• Titrate every 4 weeks based on LDL response to a range of 10–80 mg once daily.
• Pediatrics (heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia): ages 8–13 years up to 20 mg once daily; ages 14–18 years up to 40 mg once daily, as directed by a prescriber.
• Take with or without food. Choose a consistent time each day.
• Avoid taking at the exact same time as bile acid sequestrants; separate by several hours.
• Cyclosporine can increase exposure; maximum recommended pravastatin dose is lower in this setting.
• Missed dose: take when remembered unless it is close to the next dose. Do not double up.
• Continue heart‑healthy eating and activity as advised by a clinician for best lipid results.

• Store tablets at 15–25 °C (59–77 °F) in a dry place. Short excursions 15–30 °C are acceptable.
• Keep in the original, tightly closed container with the label intact.
• Protect from moisture and heat; avoid bathrooms and cars in hot weather.
• For travel, pack enough tablets for the entire trip plus extras. Keep in carry‑on luggage.
• Bring a copy of your prescription for airport security and refills if needed.
• If a weekly pill organizer is used, keep it away from humidity and direct sunlight.

Benefits and Savings

Pravastatin reduces LDL cholesterol by roughly 20–40% depending on the dose. It also lowers triglycerides and can raise HDL modestly. It is taken once daily, has a long safety track record, and has fewer drug‑drug interactions than some other statins. These advantages make it a common choice for moderate‑intensity statin therapy and for patients who need simpler interaction profiles.

Ordering pravastatin sodium tablets from YouDrugstore can offer meaningful savings. Many customers see 60–80% lower costs versus typical US retail pricing. If paying without insurance, Canadian pricing and generic options can reduce the per‑month spend. Multi‑month supplies may further lower the effective monthly cost.

Looking for extra savings? See our pravastatin sodium coupon page for current promotions.

Side Effects and Safety

• Headache
• Nausea, stomach upset, diarrhea, or constipation
• Muscle aches or cramps (myalgia)
• Joint pain or back pain
• Fatigue
• Upper respiratory symptoms
• Mild elevations in liver enzymes on blood tests

Serious effects are uncommon but include myopathy or rhabdomyolysis (unexplained muscle pain or weakness with dark urine), and rare liver injury (persistent nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice). Risk increases with certain interacting drugs (for example, cyclosporine, some macrolide antibiotics), uncontrolled hypothyroidism, and heavy alcohol use. Statins are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and pravastatin is contraindicated in active liver disease or unexplained persistent elevations of transaminases. Pravastatin does not cause low blood sugar; no increased hypoglycemia risk is expected with insulin or sulfonylureas.

Onset Time

Lipid changes begin within 1–2 weeks and reach near‑maximal effect by 4–6 weeks of a stable dose. Your prescriber may recheck fasting lipids after about 4–12 weeks to confirm response and adjust the dose. Cardiovascular risk reduction accumulates over months to years of consistent therapy. If muscle symptoms occur, contact a clinician promptly to assess and manage the regimen.

Compare With Alternatives

Atorvastatin is a higher‑potency statin that can reduce LDL by 35–60% at moderate to high doses. It is metabolized by CYP3A4, so it has more interaction potential than pravastatin. It is often chosen when large LDL reductions are required.

Rosuvastatin offers potent LDL lowering with minimal CYP metabolism. It can achieve 45–63% LDL reductions at moderate to high doses. Dose adjustments may be needed in renal impairment. Patients needing strong LDL goals with fewer CYP interactions may consider this option.

Simvastatin is an older statin with greater CYP3A4 metabolism and more dose limitations due to interactions. Some patients switch from simvastatin to pravastatin to reduce interaction concerns or muscle symptoms while maintaining moderate LDL lowering.

Combination Therapy

• Pravastatin plus ezetimibe to further reduce LDL when monotherapy is insufficient.
• Pravastatin with bile acid sequestrants; separate dosing times to avoid binding.
• Pravastatin with PCSK9 inhibitors for very high LDL or secondary prevention.
• Use caution with fibrates (especially gemfibrozil) or high‑dose niacin due to myopathy risk; consider alternatives or specialist guidance.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

Good candidates include adults needing moderate LDL reduction, those with prior cardiovascular events, diabetes with elevated LDL, or familial hypercholesterolemia. Pravastatin may suit people who take multiple medications because it has fewer CYP450 interactions. Lipid goals, ASCVD risk, and tolerance guide dose selection.

Pravastatin should be avoided in pregnancy, breastfeeding, active liver disease, or prior serious statin‑associated myopathy. Use caution with heavy alcohol intake, hypothyroidism, and severe renal impairment. Report unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or dark urine. Routine lipid panels and periodic liver enzyme checks may be recommended.

To lower costs, compare strengths such as pravastatin sod tab 20mg, pravastatin sod tab 40mg, and pravastatin sodium 80 mg tab with your prescriber’s plan; sometimes a different strength offers a better unit price. Consider a multi‑month supply to reduce per‑month expense, and set simple reorder reminders so you do not run out. These approaches can help manage the pravastatin sodium cash price if no insurance coverage applies.

Authoritative Sources

FDA application overview for Pravachol (pravastatin sodium)

Health Canada Drug Product Database: pravastatin

DailyMed listings for pravastatin sodium

Order Pravastatin Sodium from YouDrugstore: add to cart, upload your prescription, and we ship with prompt, express, cold-chain handling.

This material is educational and does not replace advice from your healthcare professional. Always follow your prescriber’s directions and the dispensing pharmacist’s guidance.