Mevacor is generically prescribed as pravastatin, and prescribed as the brand name drug, Altocor. Mevacor is designed as a low density lipoprotein reducer while also reducing total cholesterol in the blood stream. Heart disease, hardening of the arteries, stroke, vascular diseases, and coronary disease can all be prevented by reducing these two cholesterol levels in the blood stream.
Not all patients can tolerate Mevacor well, and care must be exercised when prescribing this medication. Patients with a medical history which includes muscle disorders, under active thyroid, kidney disease or diabetes may not handle the effects of this medication well. Some patients may simply require careful monitoring while undergoing this medication.
The American Food and Drug Administration rated this medicine as a pregnancy risk category X which means that this medicine is likely to cause birth defects. Women who are pregnant should not take Mevacor. It has yet to be determined whether or not this medication passes into the breast milk of a nursing mother. Children under the age of 10 are not cleared for use of Mevacor. Women who are pregnant, nursing, or likely to become pregnant can not take this medication.
Patients may miss a dose form time to time. In this event, the patient should simply take the next regular dose of Mevacor. If the next dose is less than 4 hours away, the patient should simply skip the missed dose and resume regular dosing. Taking too much Mevacor can lead to an overdose. Patients should never double up on medication.
An overdose is a serious health threat and requires prompt medical attention. While this medication is not expected to cause life threatening symptoms, the patient may experience severe and even violent illness from too much medicine. Emergency room personnel are best equipped to handle this situation.
Many patients are likely to experience side effects, although most will only experience mild, common side effects. These may include constipation, nausea, diarrhea, mild stomach discomfort, gas, bloating, and heartburn. Patients should report their symptoms to the prescribing physician. Often a change in dosage can alleviate the discomfort of mild side effects.
Some patients will experience serious side effects. Serious side effects require immediate emergency medical care. Allergic reaction often present with hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the lips, mouth, throat, and tongue. Other serious side effects may include muscle pain or tenderness with the onset of flu like symptoms, fevers, chills, and dark colored urine.
Not all medications can be taken with Mevacor. Patients should always inquire with the prescribing physician before taking any type of new medciation. This includes herbal remedies, vitamin supplements, and prescription and over the counter medications. Medicines like HIV or AIDS medication, blood thinners, antifungal medication, nefazodone, cholestyramine, gemfibrozil, cyclosporine, danazol, erythromycin, niacin, and amiodarone are likely to cause interaction with Mevacor. Patients should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while taking this medication.
Patients will need to implement a serious diet and exercise behavior modification plan in order to get the most benefit from taking this medication. Medications designed to help lower cholesterol are not designed to combat the same behaviors which resulted in the high cholesterol. Patients have to be willing to make an effort on their own as well in order to resume a healthy lifestyle. Grapefruit products may also have a significant affect on this medication. The prescribing physician should be consulted before increasing or decreasing the average amount of grapefruit products consumed by the patient.
Mevacor has the following structural formula:
• Molecular formula of mevacor is C23H36O7
• Chemical IUPAC Name is 3,5-dihydroxy-7-[6-hydroxy-2-methyl-8-(2-methylbutanoyloxy)-1, 2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-heptanoic acid
• Molecular weight is 424.528 g/mol
• Mevacor available : 10mg tablets, 20mg tablets, 40mg tablets
Generic name: Pravastatin
Brand name(s): Compactin, Elisor, Lipostat, Lovastatin, Mevalotin, Mevastatin, Mevinolin, Oliprevin, Pravachol, Pravaselect, Pravastatina, Pravastatine, Pravastatinum, Selectin, Selipran, Vasten
Review published on: 23 October 2007
 Your Mevacor review
Other popular drugs: Tenormin ::
Nasacort ::
Candesartan
|
Home
E-Mail
Site Map
http://www.medical-look.com
FORUM 
Buy Mevacor
