User:Mr. Ibrahem/Pravastatin

Pravastatin, sold under the brand name Pravachol among others, is a statin medication, used for preventing cardiovascular disease in those at high risk and treating abnormal lipids. It should be used together with diet changes, exercise, and weight loss. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include joint pain, diarrhea, nausea, headaches, and muscle pains. Serious side effects may include rhabdomyolysis, liver problems, and diabetes. Use during pregnancy may harm the baby. Like all statins, pravastatin works by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme found in liver that plays a role in producing cholesterol.

Pravastatin was patented in 1980 and approved for medical use in 1989. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines as an alternative to simvastatin. It is available as a generic medication. In the United States the wholesale cost per dose is less than 0.20 USD as of 2018. In the United Kingdom it costs the NHS about one to two pounds per month as of 2020. In 2017, it was the 24th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 24 million prescriptions.