Meta Information

ID:pravastatin

Name:Pravastatin

Schema Version:1.5

Alternate Names

• Pravachol

Intervention Type

therapeutic_agent

Expected Cost Mean

Low Cost:

5

High Cost:

20

Cost Type:

monthly

Description:

Generic prescription, often covered by insurance.

Summary

Pravastatin is a statin medication that inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. This action primarily lowers LDL ('bad') cholesterol levels, a causal factor in atherosclerosis. By reducing the buildup of plaque in arteries, it significantly decreases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, directly addressing a leading cause of age-related mortality.

Purpose

Lowers LDL cholesterol to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Card Summary

A statin medication that lowers LDL cholesterol, a primary driver of atherosclerosis, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Drug Class

statins

Drugs In Class

Empty Array

Impact

Score:

7.8

Justification:

Dramatically reduces risk of cardiovascular events, a leading cause of mortality.

Evidence

Grade:

A

Score:

9.5

Justification:

Extensive, high-quality human RCTs and meta-analyses confirm cardiovascular risk reduction.

Safety

Score:

4.5

Justification:

Generally well-tolerated but associated with muscle pain and a small diabetes risk.

Flags

• Most common side effect is myalgia (muscle pain or weakness).
• Associated with a small but statistically significant increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Rare but serious side effects include rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown) and liver damage.
• Pravastatin is hydrophilic, which may result in fewer CNS side effects than lipophilic statins.
• Requires a prescription and medical supervision to monitor lipids and liver function.

Verdict

A cornerstone for reducing cardiovascular risk in appropriate individuals.

Created

2026-04-27T00:49:46.173620Z

Model

Gemini 3.1 Pro (High)

Delivery

Route:

oral

Scope:

• systemic

Indication

Focus:

disease_treatment

Description:

Pravastatin is a statin medication that inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. This action primarily lowers LDL ('bad') cholesterol levels, a causal factor in atheroscleros...

Typical Protocol

• Daily oral doses of 10-40 mg are common for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.