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Pravachol Side Effects

Pravachol is the brand name for pravastatin, a statin drug prescribed to lower cholesterol levels in people diagnosed with dangerously high cholesterol. Manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pravachol is associated with numerous side effects.

  1. Most Common Effects

    • In clinical studies with Pravachol, as detailed by eMedTV, the most common side effects were nausea and vomiting, the common cold, headache and diarrhea. These occurred in 6 percent to 7 percent of participants in some trials.

    Other Side Effects

    • Other side effects occurring in 2 percent to 4 percent of participants include constipation, dizziness, fatigue, gas, heartburn, indigestion, muscle pain and rash.

    Liver Considerations

    • Like all statins, Pravachol blocks an enzyme in the liver that produces cholesterol. It can also cause liver damage, although rarely, with symptoms of elevated liver enzymes in blood tests, jaundice and dark urine.

    Myopathy

    • Rarely, Pravachol has been linked with a condition called statin myopathy, with symptoms of progressive muscle aches and weakness. Discontinuing the medication typically clears up the problem.

    Warning

    • A more severe disorder, rhabdomyolysis, also is linked to statin drugs. This disorder causes skeletal muscle breakdown, which releases a protein called myoglobin into the blood, and can lead to kidney failure. Symptoms include muscle pain and weakness, fever and dark urine.

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