DESCRIPTION
id: 22fcf5da-28a9-44f3-b7de-9f8d632c881c
displayName: DESCRIPTION SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34089-3
Pravastatin sodium tablets are one of a class of lipid-lowering compounds, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, which reduce cholesterol biosynthesis. These agents are competitive inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the enzyme catalyzing the early rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis, conversion of HMG- CoA to mevalonate.
Pravastatin sodium is designated chemically as 1-Naphthalene-heptanoic acid, 1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-β,δ,6-trihydroxy-2-methyl-8-(2-methyl-1-oxobutoxy)-, monosodium salt, [1S-[1α(βS*,δS*),2α,6α,8β(R*),8aα]]-. Structural formula:
C23 H35 NaO7 MW 446.52
Pravastatin sodium is an odorless, white to off-white, fine or crystalline powder. It is a relatively polar hydrophilic compound with a partition coefficient (octanol/water) of 0.59 at a pH of 7.0. It is soluble in methanol and water (>300 mg/mL), slightly soluble in isopropanol, and practically insoluble in acetone, acetonitrile, chloroform, and ether.
Pravastatin sodium is available for oral administration as 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg tablets. Inactive ingredients include: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, mannitol, meglumine, microcrystalline cellulose and starch. The 10 mg, 20 mg and 80 mg tablets also contain D&C Yellow No 10 Aluminium Lake and the 40 mg tablet also contains D&C Yellow No 10 Aluminium Lake and FD&C Blue No. 1-Aluminium Lake.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
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displayName: CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34090-1
Cholesterol and triglycerides in the bloodstream circulate as part of lipoprotein complexes. These complexes can be separated by density ultracentrifugation into high (HDL), intermediate (IDL), low (LDL), and very low (VLDL) density lipoprotein fractions. Triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol synthesized in the liver are incorporated into very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs) and released into the plasma for delivery to peripheral tissues. In a series of subsequent steps, VLDLs are transformed into intermediate density lipoproteins (IDLs), and cholesterol-rich low density lipoproteins (LDLs). High density lipoproteins (HDLs), containing apolipoprotein A, are hypothesized to participate in the reverse transport of cholesterol from tissues back to the liver.
Pravastatin sodium produces its lipid-lowering effect in two ways. First, as a consequence of its reversible inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity, it effects modest reductions in intracellular pools of cholesterol. This results in an increase in the number of LDL-receptors on cell surfaces and enhanced receptor-mediated catabolism and clearance of circulating LDL. Second, pravastatin inhibits LDL production by inhibiting hepatic synthesis of VLDL, the LDL precursor.
Clinical and pathologic studies have shown that elevated levels of total cholesterol (Total-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (Apo B – a membrane transport complex for LDL) promote human atherosclerosis. Similarly, decreased levels of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and its transport complex, apolipoprotein A, are associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Epidemiologic investigations have established that cardiovascular morbidity and mortality vary directly with the level of Total-C and LDL-C and inversely with the level of HDL-C. Like LDL, cholesterol-enriched triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, including VLDL, IDL, and remnants, can also promote atherosclerosis. Elevated plasma TG are frequently found in a triad with low HDL-C levels and small LDL particles, as well as in association with non-lipid metabolic risk factors for coronary heart disease. As such, total plasma TG has not consistently been shown to be an independent risk factor for CHD. Furthermore, the independent effect of raising HDL or lowering TG on the risk of coronary and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined. In both normal volunteers and patients with hypercholesterolemia, treatment with pravastatin sodium tablets reduced Total-C, LDL-C, and apolipoprotein B. Pravastatin sodium also reduced VLDL-C and TG and produced increases in HDL-C and apolipoprotein A. The effects of pravastatin on Lp (a), fibrinogen, and certain other independent biochemical risk markers for coronary heart disease are unknown. Although pravastatin is relatively more hydrophilic than other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, the effect of relative hydrophilicity, if any, on either efficacy or safety has not been established.
In one primary (West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study – WOS)1 prevention study, pravastatin sodium has been shown to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality across a wide range of cholesterol levels (see
Clinical Studies
).
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
id: b3ec4771-34de-4c3a-ae01-3e9b97a71363
displayName: INDICATIONS & USAGE SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34067-9
Therapy with pravastatin sodium tablets should be considered in those individuals at increased risk for atherosclerosis-related clinical events as a function of cholesterol level, the presence or absence of coronary heart disease, and other risk factors.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
id: c191b1d1-e572-4710-8ac0-dba698a007e9
displayName: CONTRAINDICATIONS SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34070-3
Hypersensitivity to any component of this medication.
Active liver disease or unexplained, persistent elevations of serum transaminases (see
WARNINGS
).
ADVERSE REACTIONS
id: b1513831-4164-4026-a612-5111cdd4a6c5
displayName: ADVERSE REACTIONS SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34084-4
Pravastatin is generally well tolerated; adverse reactions have usually been mild and transient. In 4-month long placebo-controlled trials, 1.7% of pravastatin-treated patients and 1.2% of placebo-treated patients were discontinued from treatment because of adverse experiences attributed to study drug therapy; this difference was not statistically significant. (See also
PRECAUTIONS: Geriatric use
).
OVERDOSAGE
id: e2a60f47-8606-4e03-be50-e4b67647df1c
displayName: OVERDOSAGE SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34088-5
To date, there has been limited experience with overdosage of pravastatin. If an overdose occurs, it should be treated symptomatically with laboratory monitoring and supportive measures should be instituted as required. (See
WARNINGS
.)
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
id: 93b5ad45-1fa1-4d60-8256-49a546428d0c
displayName: DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34068-7
The patient should be placed on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet before receiving pravastatin sodium and should continue on this diet during treatment with pravastatin sodium (see NCEP Treatment Guidelines for details on dietary therapy).
Pravastatin sodium can be administered orally as a single dose at any time of the day, with or without food. Since the maximal effect of a given dose is seen within 4 weeks, periodic lipid determinations should be performed at this time and dosage adjusted according to the patient’s response to therapy and established treatment guidelines.
HOW SUPPLIED
id: db243009-ca00-4a73-be0e-5827617a7f39
displayName: HOW SUPPLIED SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34069-5
Pravastatin sodium tablets are supplied as:
20 mg tablets: Yellow colored, rounded-rectangular shaped tablets having biconvex surface, with “G5” debossed on one surface and “20” debossed on the other surface. They are supplied in bottles of 90 (NDC 42254-202-90).
STORAGE
id: f099667e-485c-4702-8572-d550b29dc92e
displayName: STORAGE AND HANDLING SECTION
FDA Article Code: 44425-7
Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15°-30°C (59°-86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Keep tightly closed (protect from moisture). Protect from light.
REFERENCES
id: 5aec931d-7f05-45df-a986-88cb6dffbacc
displayName: REFERENCES SECTION
FDA Article Code: 34093-5
1Shepherd J, et al. Prevention of coronary heart disease with pravastatin in men with hypercholesterolemia (WOS). N Engl J Med 1995;333:1301-7.
4Pitt B, et al. Pravastatin Limitation of Atherosclerosis in the Coronary Arteries (PLAC I): Reduction in Atherosclerosis Progression and Clinical Events. J Am Coll Cardiol 1995;26:1133-9.
5Jukema JW, et al. Effects of Lipid Lowering by Pravastatin on Progression and Regression of Coronary Artery Disease in Symptomatic Man With Normal to Moderately Elevated Serum Cholesterol Levels. The Regression Growth Evaluation Statin Study (REGRESS). Circulation 1995;91:2528-2540.
6Crouse JR, et al. Pravastatin, lipids, and atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries: design features of a clinical trial with carotid atherosclerosis outcome (PLAC II). Controlled Clinical Trials 1992;13:495.
7Salonen R, et al. Kuopio Atherosclerosis Prevention Study (KAPS). A population-based primary preventive trial of the effect of LDL lowering on atherosclerotic progression in carotid and femoral arteries. Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, Finland. Circulation 1995;92:1758.
8Fredrickson DS, et al. Fat transport in lipoproteins–an integrated approach to mechanisms and disorders. N Engl J Med 1967; 276:34-42, 94-102, 148-156, 215-224, 273-281.
9Manson JM, Freyssinges C, Ducrocq MB, Stephenson WP. Postmarketing Surveillance of Lovastatin and Simvastatin Exposure During Pregnancy. ReproductiveToxicology 1996;10(6):439-446.
Principal Display Panel
id: a64ace6d-e872-4f87-97fd-e4217e7c7076
displayName: PACKAGE LABEL.PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL
FDA Article Code: 51945-4
