Pravastatin (Na)

Pravastatin (Na) is a lipid-lowering agent, belongs to the group of drugs known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors which includes fluvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin. More hydrophilic than the other members of this group unlike the others, pravastatin does not require hydrolysis for activation.Pravastatin (Na) is used for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia, and for primary prophylaxis of a myocardial infarction in patients with hypercholesterolemia who are at risk of a myocardial infarction. It was approved by the FDA in October 1991. It exerts it slipid lowering effects by inhibiting hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, an enzyme necessary for the intracellular synthesis of cholesterol. As a consequence of inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, intracellular synthesis of cholesterol is impaired. This, in turn, increases the clearance of circulating LDL. In addition, pravastatin inhibits hepatic synthesis of VLDL, the precursor for LDL. The result is a reduction of circulating total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.