Pravastatin
Pravastatin is a member of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor family of drugs, also called “statins,” such as lovastatin and simvastatin. Pravastatin blocks a key step in the body’s production of cholesterol and is used to lower cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol.
- Support your medication’s effectiveness with omega-3s 900 to 1,800 mg each day of the omega-3 fatty acid EPA, found in fish oil, may improve pravastatin’s cholesterol- and triglyceride-lowering effect
- Keep up your CoQ10 levels 30 to 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 per day may prevent this heart-healthy nutrient from being depleted by your medication, and it may reduce the likelihood of a potential side effect.
- Try cholesterol-lowering margarine Using margarines containing sitostanol (Benecol), which is made from naturally occurring unsaturated sterols from soybean oil (Take Control), can help lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.
- Disrupt your medicine with grapefruit Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice (and potentially pomegranate) as they may inhibit the body’s ability to break down pravastatin, making it more toxic.
- Take red yeast rice with statins Although red yeast rice (Monascus purpureas) extract has been shown to lower moderately high cholesterol and triglycerides, it contains small amounts of natural HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and should not be used with statin medications.
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The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2013.
