Pravastatin

Pravastatin (Pravachol) is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) that lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while modestly raising HDL cholesterol, by inhibiting an enzyme central to cholesterol synthesis in the liver. It is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke) in patients with elevated cholesterol or existing cardiovascular disease, and to treat various dyslipidemias. Unlike many other statins, pravastatin is not significantly metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme system, giving it a somewhat lower potential for certain drug interactions, though liver enzyme monitoring is still recommended periodically.