Always follow the instructions from a pharmacist or doctor, or the leaflet in the medicine packet.
Dosage and how to take pravastatin
Doses for adults
The usual dose for adults is 10mg to 40mg once a day. Your dose depends on why you need the medicine, your cholesterol level and other medicines you may already be taking.
Ask your doctor or a pharmacist for advice if you're unsure how much to take. Do not reduce your dose without talking to your doctor first.
Doses for children
The dose prescribed for your child depends on their age and why they need pravastatin.
The usual starting dose of pravastatin in children is 10mg taken in the evening. This may be increased to a maximum of 40mg taken in the evening, depending on your child's age.
How to take it
Take pravastatin once a day in the evening. There's some evidence that it's better to take pravastatin at night because this is when your body makes most of its cholesterol.
Pravastatin should not upset your stomach, so you can take it with or without food. Swallow pravastatin tablets whole with a glass of water.
How long to take it for
Treatment with a statin, such as pravastatin, is usually for life. The benefits will only continue for as long as you take it.
If you stop taking pravastatin, it's important to find another way to lower your cholesterol.
If you want to stop taking pravastatin because you're having side effects, talk to your doctor first. They may lower your dose or change your medicine.
You will not get any withdrawal symptoms from stopping pravastatin, but your cholesterol level might rise. This increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
If you forget to take it
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose and take your tablet at the usual time.
Never take 2 doses to make up for a forgotten one.
If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. Or ask a pharmacist about other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
If you take too much
Taking an extra dose of pravastatin is unlikely to harm you.
Talk to a pharmacist or doctor if you're worried or if you take more than 1 extra dose.