What is aspirin and pravastatin?
Pravastatin is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol
(a type of fat) in the body.
Pravastatin reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the
blood. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries,
conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.
Aspirin is a pain reliever and fever reducer. It also reduces swelling.
The combination of aspirin and pravastatin is used to treat high cholesterol and lower the
risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in people with coronary heart disease.
Aspirin and pravastatin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking aspirin and pravastatin?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin or pravastatin, or if you have:
-
liver disease;
-
asthma with nasal polyps;
-
aspirin-sensitive asthma or other allergic reactions; or
-
if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Before taking aspirin and pravastatin, tell your doctor if you are
allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
-
diabetes;
-
underactive thyroid;
-
kidney disease;
-
congestive heart failure;
-
a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding;
-
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;
-
a muscle disorder; or
-
if you are a heavy drinker (3 or more alcoholic beverages
per day).
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take aspirin and pravastatin.
FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects.
Do not
use
aspirin and pravastatin if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you
become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using
this medication.
Aspirin and pravastatin passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not
take aspirin and pravastatin without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 without the advice of a doctor.
Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has
flu symptoms or chicken pox.
Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal
condition called Reye's syndrome in children.
How should I take aspirin and pravastatin?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label.
Take aspirin and pravastatin with a full glass of water, unless your doctor has told
you to limit your fluid intake.
Aspirin and pravastatin can be taken with or without food.
Aspirin and pravastatin is usually taken once a day. Try to take your dose at the same time
each day. Follow your doctor's instructions.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on
a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits
to your doctor.
In rare cases, pravastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of
skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you
have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark
colored urine.
Aspirin and pravastatin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes
diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very
closely.
You may need to take aspirin and pravastatin on a long-term basis for the treatment of
high cholesterol.
Store aspirin and pravastatin at room temperature, protected from moisture, heat, and
light.
What happens if I miss a dose of aspirin and pravastatin?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip
the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about aspirin and pravastatin?
Your pharmacist has information about aspirin and pravastatin written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of aspirin and pravastatin?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using aspirin and pravastatin and call your doctor at once if you have any of
these serious side effects:
-
chest pain;
-
muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever or flu
symptoms and dark colored urine;
-
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
-
black, bloody, or tarry stools;
-
coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
or
-
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness.
Less serious side effects include:
-
mild stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea;
-
heartburn, gas, bloating, upset stomach;
-
tired feeling;
-
headache;
-
stuffy nose, cold or flu symptoms;
-
skin rash; or
-
general pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What is the most important information I should know about aspirin and pravastatin?
In rare cases, pravastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of
skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you
have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark
colored urine.
This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby.
Do not use if
you are pregnant.
Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you
become pregnant during treatment.
Do not take aspirin and pravastatin if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you
have liver disease, asthma with nasal polyps, or aspirin-sensitive asthma or other allergic
reactions.
Before taking aspirin and pravastatin, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, underactive
thyroid, kidney disease, congestive heart failure, a muscle disorder, a recent history of stomach or
intestinal bleeding, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, or if you drink 3 or more alcoholic
beverages per day.
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Aspirin and pravastatin will not be
as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking aspirin and pravastatin. Alcohol can raise
triglyceride levels, and may also damage your liver while you are taking aspirin and pravastatin.
Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin.
Aspirin is contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products
together you may accidentally take too much aspirin.
There are many other drugs that can interact with aspirin and pravastatin.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.
This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not
start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What should I avoid while taking aspirin and pravastatin?
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Aspirin and pravastatin will not be
as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medication. Alcohol can raise
triglyceride levels, and may also increase your risk of stomach bleeding or liver damage while
taking aspirin and pravastatin.
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first
asking your doctor or pharmacist. Aspirin is contained in many medicines available over the
counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much aspirin. Read
the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin.
Avoid taking an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) while you are taking
aspirin. NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid),
etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac
(Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen
(Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.
What other drugs will affect aspirin and pravastatin?
Many drugs can interact with aspirin and pravastatin. Below is just a partial list. Tell
your doctor if you are using:
-
diltiazem (Dilacor, Cartia, Tiazac);
-
diabetes medications you take by mouth;
-
a diuretic (water pill);
-
gout medication;
-
seizure medication;
-
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
-
cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol
(Colestid);
-
erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or
clarithromycin (Biaxin);
-
gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate
(Tricor);
-
niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
-
drugs that weaken your immune system such as cancer
medicine or steroids, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf), sirolimus (Rapamune),
tacrolimus (Prograf), and others;
-
an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox),
fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
-
an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril
(Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and others; or
-
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic),
betaxolol (Kerlone), bisoprolol (Zebeta, Ziac), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol
(Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), timolol (Blocadren),
and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with aspirin and pravastatin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter
medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by
other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of aspirin and pravastatin?
