Pravastatin Sodium
Generic: PRAVASTATIN SODIUM
Basic Information
Manufacturer
Northwind Health Company, LLC
Product Type
HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG
Route of Administration
ORAL
FDA Set ID
db0e9c21-dc25-629a-e053-2a95a90a5ac3
Indications & Usage
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Pravastatin sodium tablets are indicated: To reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, myocardial revascularization procedures, and cardiovascular mortality in adults with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) without clinically evident coronary heart disease (CHD).
To reduce the risk of coronary death, myocardial infarction, myocardial revascularization procedures, stroke or transient ischemic attack, and slow the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in adults with clinically evident CHD.
As an adjunct to diet to reduce LDL-C in adults with primary hyperlipidemia.
As an adjunct to diet to reduce LDL-C in pediatric patients ages 8 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).
As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adults with: Primary dysbetalipoproteinemia.
Hypertriglyceridemia.
Pravastatin sodium tablets are an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) indicated ( 1 ): To reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, myocardial revascularization procedures, and cardiovascular mortality in adults with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) without clinically evident coronary heart disease (CHD).
To reduce the risk of coronary death, myocardial infarction, myocardial revascularization procedures, stroke or transient ischemic attack, and slow the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in adults with clinically evident CHD.
As an adjunct to diet to reduce LDL-C in adults with primary hyperlipidemia.
As an adjunct to diet to reduce LDL-C in pediatric patients ages 8 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).
As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adults with: Primary dysbetalipoproteinemia.
Hypertriglyceridemia.
To reduce the risk of coronary death, myocardial infarction, myocardial revascularization procedures, stroke or transient ischemic attack, and slow the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in adults with clinically evident CHD.
As an adjunct to diet to reduce LDL-C in adults with primary hyperlipidemia.
As an adjunct to diet to reduce LDL-C in pediatric patients ages 8 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).
As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adults with: Primary dysbetalipoproteinemia.
Hypertriglyceridemia.
Pravastatin sodium tablets are an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) indicated ( 1 ): To reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, myocardial revascularization procedures, and cardiovascular mortality in adults with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) without clinically evident coronary heart disease (CHD).
To reduce the risk of coronary death, myocardial infarction, myocardial revascularization procedures, stroke or transient ischemic attack, and slow the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in adults with clinically evident CHD.
As an adjunct to diet to reduce LDL-C in adults with primary hyperlipidemia.
As an adjunct to diet to reduce LDL-C in pediatric patients ages 8 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).
As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adults with: Primary dysbetalipoproteinemia.
Hypertriglyceridemia.
Adverse Reactions
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following important adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling: Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Hepatic Dysfunction [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Increases in HbA1c and Fasting Serum Glucose Levels [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] In short-term clinical trials, the most commonly reported adverse reactions (≥2% and greater than placebo) were: musculoskeletal pain, nausea/vomiting, upper respiratory infection, diarrhea, and headache.
( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA at 1 (888) 721-7115 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
In pravastatin sodium placebo-controlled clinical trials, 1313 patients (age range 20 to 76 years, 32% women, 93.5% White, 5% Black, 0.9% Hispanic, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Other) with a median treatment duration of 14 weeks, 3.3% of patients on pravastatin sodium and 1.2% patients on placebo discontinued due to adverse reactions (regardless of causality).
The most common adverse reactions that led to treatment discontinuation and occurred at an incidence greater than placebo were: hepatic transaminase elevations, nausea, anxiety/depression, and dizziness.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) reported in ≥2% of pravastatin sodium-treated patients in placebo-controlled trials of up to 8 months duration are identified in Table 1: Table 1: Adverse Reactions in ≥2% of Patients Treated with Pravastatin (Any Dose) and at an Incidence Greater Than Placebo in Short-Term Placebo-Controlled Trials % Placebo N=411 % Any Dose N=902 Nausea/Vomiting 7.1 7.4 Diarrhea 5.6 6.7 Headache 4.6 6.3 Upper Respiratory Infection 5.8 5.9 Angina Pectoris 3.4 4.5 Rash 1.4 4.5 CPK Increased 3.6 4.1 Dizziness 3.4 3.5 ALT Increased 1.2 2.9 Chest Pain 1.9 2.7 Cough 1.7 2.5 Myalgia 1.2 2.3 Influenza 0.7 2 g-GT Increased 1.2 2 Adverse Reactions (regardless of causality) The safety and tolerability of pravastatin sodium at a dose of 80 mg in 2 controlled trials with a mean exposure of 8.6 months was similar to that of pravastatin sodium at lower doses except that 4 out of 464 patients taking 80 mg of pravastatin had a single elevation of CK >10 times ULN compared to 0 out of 115 patients taking 40 mg of pravastatin.
In pravastatin sodium placebo-controlled clinical trials, 21,483 patients (age range 24 to 75 years, 10.3% women, 52.3% White, 0.8% Black, 0.5% Hispanic, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Other, 46.1% not recorded) had a median treatment duration of 261 weeks.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) were pooled from 7 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study [WOS]; Cholesterol and Recurrent Events study [CARE]; Long-term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischemic Disease study [LIPID]; Pravastatin Limitation of Atherosclerosis in the Coronary Arteries study [PLAC I]; Pravastatin, Lipids and Atherosclerosis in the Carotids study [PLAC II]; Regression Growth Evaluation Statin Study [REGRESS]; and Kuopio Atherosclerosis Prevention Study [KAPS]) involving a total of 10,764 patients treated with pravastatin sodium 40 mg and 10,719 patients treated with placebo.
Patients were exposed to pravastatin sodium for a mean of 4 to 5.1 years in WOS, CARE, and LIPID and 1.9 to 2.9 years in PLAC I, PLAC II, KAPS, and REGRESS.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) occurring in ≥5% of patients treated with pravastatin sodium in these studies are identified in Table 2.
Table 2: Adverse Reactions in ≥5% of Patients Treated with Pravastatin 40 mg and at an Incidence Greater than Placebo in Long-Term Placebo-Controlled Trials Placebo (N=10,719) % of patients Pravastatin sodium (N=10,764) % of patients Musculoskeletal Pain 24.4 24.9 Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 20.2 21.2 Musculoskeletal Traumatism 9.6 10.2 Chest Pain 9.8 10 Influenza 9 9.2 Fatigue 7.8 8.4 Cough 7.4 8.2 Dizziness 6.6 7.3 Rash (including dermatitis) 7.1 7.2 Sinus Abnormality 6.7 7 Muscle Cramp 4.6 5.1 Adverse Reactions (regardless of causality) No new adverse reactions were identified in a study of pediatric patients with HeFH.
Laboratory Abnormalities Increases in ALT, AST values and CK have been observed.
Transient, asymptomatic eosinophilia has been reported.
Eosinophil counts usually returned to normal despite continued therapy.
Anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia have been reported with statins.
6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of pravastatin sodium.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Musculoskeletal: myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, tendon disorder, polymyositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with statin use.
Nervous System: dysfunction of certain cranial nerves (including alteration of taste, impairment of extraocular movement, facial paresis), peripheral nerve palsy.
Rare postmarketing reports of cognitive impairment (e.g., memory loss, forgetfulness, amnesia, memory impairment, confusion) associated with statin use.
Cognitive impairment was generally nonserious, and reversible upon statin discontinuation, with variable times to symptom onset (1 day to years) and symptom resolution (median of 3 weeks).
Hypersensitivity: anaphylaxis, angioedema, lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, dermatomyositis, vasculitis, purpura, hemolytic anemia, positive ANA, ESR increase, arthritis, arthralgia, asthenia, photosensitivity, chills, malaise, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain, constipation, pancreatitis, hepatitis (including chronic active hepatitis), cholestatic jaundice, fatty change in liver, cirrhosis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, hepatoma, fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure.
Dermatologic: a variety of skin changes (e.g., nodules, discoloration, dryness of mucous membranes, changes to hair/nails), lichen planus.
Renal: urinary abnormality (including dysuria, frequency, nocturia).
Respiratory: dyspnea, interstitial lung disease.
Psychiatric: nightmare.
Reproductive: gynecomastia.
Laboratory Abnormalities: liver function test abnormalities, thyroid function abnormalities.
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
In pravastatin sodium placebo-controlled clinical trials, 1313 patients (age range 20 to 76 years, 32% women, 93.5% White, 5% Black, 0.9% Hispanic, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Other) with a median treatment duration of 14 weeks, 3.3% of patients on pravastatin sodium and 1.2% patients on placebo discontinued due to adverse reactions (regardless of causality).
The most common adverse reactions that led to treatment discontinuation and occurred at an incidence greater than placebo were: hepatic transaminase elevations, nausea, anxiety/depression, and dizziness.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) reported in ≥2% of pravastatin sodium-treated patients in placebo-controlled trials of up to 8 months duration are identified in Table 1: Table 1: Adverse Reactions in ≥2% of Patients Treated with Pravastatin (Any Dose) and at an Incidence Greater Than Placebo in Short-Term Placebo-Controlled Trials % Placebo N=411 % Any Dose N=902 Nausea/Vomiting 7.1 7.4 Diarrhea 5.6 6.7 Headache 4.6 6.3 Upper Respiratory Infection 5.8 5.9 Angina Pectoris 3.4 4.5 Rash 1.4 4.5 CPK Increased 3.6 4.1 Dizziness 3.4 3.5 ALT Increased 1.2 2.9 Chest Pain 1.9 2.7 Cough 1.7 2.5 Myalgia 1.2 2.3 Influenza 0.7 2 g-GT Increased 1.2 2 Adverse Reactions (regardless of causality) The safety and tolerability of pravastatin sodium at a dose of 80 mg in 2 controlled trials with a mean exposure of 8.6 months was similar to that of pravastatin sodium at lower doses except that 4 out of 464 patients taking 80 mg of pravastatin had a single elevation of CK >10 times ULN compared to 0 out of 115 patients taking 40 mg of pravastatin.
In pravastatin sodium placebo-controlled clinical trials, 21,483 patients (age range 24 to 75 years, 10.3% women, 52.3% White, 0.8% Black, 0.5% Hispanic, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Other, 46.1% not recorded) had a median treatment duration of 261 weeks.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) were pooled from 7 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study [WOS]; Cholesterol and Recurrent Events study [CARE]; Long-term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischemic Disease study [LIPID]; Pravastatin Limitation of Atherosclerosis in the Coronary Arteries study [PLAC I]; Pravastatin, Lipids and Atherosclerosis in the Carotids study [PLAC II]; Regression Growth Evaluation Statin Study [REGRESS]; and Kuopio Atherosclerosis Prevention Study [KAPS]) involving a total of 10,764 patients treated with pravastatin sodium 40 mg and 10,719 patients treated with placebo.
Patients were exposed to pravastatin sodium for a mean of 4 to 5.1 years in WOS, CARE, and LIPID and 1.9 to 2.9 years in PLAC I, PLAC II, KAPS, and REGRESS.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) occurring in ≥5% of patients treated with pravastatin sodium in these studies are identified in Table 2.
Table 2: Adverse Reactions in ≥5% of Patients Treated with Pravastatin 40 mg and at an Incidence Greater than Placebo in Long-Term Placebo-Controlled Trials Placebo (N=10,719) % of patients Pravastatin sodium (N=10,764) % of patients Musculoskeletal Pain 24.4 24.9 Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 20.2 21.2 Musculoskeletal Traumatism 9.6 10.2 Chest Pain 9.8 10 Influenza 9 9.2 Fatigue 7.8 8.4 Cough 7.4 8.2 Dizziness 6.6 7.3 Rash (including dermatitis) 7.1 7.2 Sinus Abnormality 6.7 7 Muscle Cramp 4.6 5.1 Adverse Reactions (regardless of causality) No new adverse reactions were identified in a study of pediatric patients with HeFH.
Laboratory Abnormalities Increases in ALT, AST values and CK have been observed.
Transient, asymptomatic eosinophilia has been reported.
Eosinophil counts usually returned to normal despite continued therapy.
Anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia have been reported with statins.
6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of pravastatin sodium.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Musculoskeletal: myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, tendon disorder, polymyositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with statin use.
Nervous System: dysfunction of certain cranial nerves (including alteration of taste, impairment of extraocular movement, facial paresis), peripheral nerve palsy.
Rare postmarketing reports of cognitive impairment (e.g., memory loss, forgetfulness, amnesia, memory impairment, confusion) associated with statin use.
Cognitive impairment was generally nonserious, and reversible upon statin discontinuation, with variable times to symptom onset (1 day to years) and symptom resolution (median of 3 weeks).
Hypersensitivity: anaphylaxis, angioedema, lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, dermatomyositis, vasculitis, purpura, hemolytic anemia, positive ANA, ESR increase, arthritis, arthralgia, asthenia, photosensitivity, chills, malaise, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain, constipation, pancreatitis, hepatitis (including chronic active hepatitis), cholestatic jaundice, fatty change in liver, cirrhosis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, hepatoma, fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure.
Dermatologic: a variety of skin changes (e.g., nodules, discoloration, dryness of mucous membranes, changes to hair/nails), lichen planus.
Renal: urinary abnormality (including dysuria, frequency, nocturia).
Respiratory: dyspnea, interstitial lung disease.
Psychiatric: nightmare.
Reproductive: gynecomastia.
Laboratory Abnormalities: liver function test abnormalities, thyroid function abnormalities.
( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA at 1 (888) 721-7115 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
In pravastatin sodium placebo-controlled clinical trials, 1313 patients (age range 20 to 76 years, 32% women, 93.5% White, 5% Black, 0.9% Hispanic, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Other) with a median treatment duration of 14 weeks, 3.3% of patients on pravastatin sodium and 1.2% patients on placebo discontinued due to adverse reactions (regardless of causality).
The most common adverse reactions that led to treatment discontinuation and occurred at an incidence greater than placebo were: hepatic transaminase elevations, nausea, anxiety/depression, and dizziness.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) reported in ≥2% of pravastatin sodium-treated patients in placebo-controlled trials of up to 8 months duration are identified in Table 1: Table 1: Adverse Reactions in ≥2% of Patients Treated with Pravastatin (Any Dose) and at an Incidence Greater Than Placebo in Short-Term Placebo-Controlled Trials % Placebo N=411 % Any Dose N=902 Nausea/Vomiting 7.1 7.4 Diarrhea 5.6 6.7 Headache 4.6 6.3 Upper Respiratory Infection 5.8 5.9 Angina Pectoris 3.4 4.5 Rash 1.4 4.5 CPK Increased 3.6 4.1 Dizziness 3.4 3.5 ALT Increased 1.2 2.9 Chest Pain 1.9 2.7 Cough 1.7 2.5 Myalgia 1.2 2.3 Influenza 0.7 2 g-GT Increased 1.2 2 Adverse Reactions (regardless of causality) The safety and tolerability of pravastatin sodium at a dose of 80 mg in 2 controlled trials with a mean exposure of 8.6 months was similar to that of pravastatin sodium at lower doses except that 4 out of 464 patients taking 80 mg of pravastatin had a single elevation of CK >10 times ULN compared to 0 out of 115 patients taking 40 mg of pravastatin.
In pravastatin sodium placebo-controlled clinical trials, 21,483 patients (age range 24 to 75 years, 10.3% women, 52.3% White, 0.8% Black, 0.5% Hispanic, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Other, 46.1% not recorded) had a median treatment duration of 261 weeks.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) were pooled from 7 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study [WOS]; Cholesterol and Recurrent Events study [CARE]; Long-term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischemic Disease study [LIPID]; Pravastatin Limitation of Atherosclerosis in the Coronary Arteries study [PLAC I]; Pravastatin, Lipids and Atherosclerosis in the Carotids study [PLAC II]; Regression Growth Evaluation Statin Study [REGRESS]; and Kuopio Atherosclerosis Prevention Study [KAPS]) involving a total of 10,764 patients treated with pravastatin sodium 40 mg and 10,719 patients treated with placebo.
Patients were exposed to pravastatin sodium for a mean of 4 to 5.1 years in WOS, CARE, and LIPID and 1.9 to 2.9 years in PLAC I, PLAC II, KAPS, and REGRESS.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) occurring in ≥5% of patients treated with pravastatin sodium in these studies are identified in Table 2.
Table 2: Adverse Reactions in ≥5% of Patients Treated with Pravastatin 40 mg and at an Incidence Greater than Placebo in Long-Term Placebo-Controlled Trials Placebo (N=10,719) % of patients Pravastatin sodium (N=10,764) % of patients Musculoskeletal Pain 24.4 24.9 Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 20.2 21.2 Musculoskeletal Traumatism 9.6 10.2 Chest Pain 9.8 10 Influenza 9 9.2 Fatigue 7.8 8.4 Cough 7.4 8.2 Dizziness 6.6 7.3 Rash (including dermatitis) 7.1 7.2 Sinus Abnormality 6.7 7 Muscle Cramp 4.6 5.1 Adverse Reactions (regardless of causality) No new adverse reactions were identified in a study of pediatric patients with HeFH.
Laboratory Abnormalities Increases in ALT, AST values and CK have been observed.
Transient, asymptomatic eosinophilia has been reported.
Eosinophil counts usually returned to normal despite continued therapy.
Anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia have been reported with statins.
6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of pravastatin sodium.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Musculoskeletal: myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, tendon disorder, polymyositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with statin use.
Nervous System: dysfunction of certain cranial nerves (including alteration of taste, impairment of extraocular movement, facial paresis), peripheral nerve palsy.
Rare postmarketing reports of cognitive impairment (e.g., memory loss, forgetfulness, amnesia, memory impairment, confusion) associated with statin use.
Cognitive impairment was generally nonserious, and reversible upon statin discontinuation, with variable times to symptom onset (1 day to years) and symptom resolution (median of 3 weeks).
Hypersensitivity: anaphylaxis, angioedema, lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, dermatomyositis, vasculitis, purpura, hemolytic anemia, positive ANA, ESR increase, arthritis, arthralgia, asthenia, photosensitivity, chills, malaise, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain, constipation, pancreatitis, hepatitis (including chronic active hepatitis), cholestatic jaundice, fatty change in liver, cirrhosis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, hepatoma, fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure.
Dermatologic: a variety of skin changes (e.g., nodules, discoloration, dryness of mucous membranes, changes to hair/nails), lichen planus.
Renal: urinary abnormality (including dysuria, frequency, nocturia).
Respiratory: dyspnea, interstitial lung disease.
Psychiatric: nightmare.
Reproductive: gynecomastia.
Laboratory Abnormalities: liver function test abnormalities, thyroid function abnormalities.
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
In pravastatin sodium placebo-controlled clinical trials, 1313 patients (age range 20 to 76 years, 32% women, 93.5% White, 5% Black, 0.9% Hispanic, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Other) with a median treatment duration of 14 weeks, 3.3% of patients on pravastatin sodium and 1.2% patients on placebo discontinued due to adverse reactions (regardless of causality).
The most common adverse reactions that led to treatment discontinuation and occurred at an incidence greater than placebo were: hepatic transaminase elevations, nausea, anxiety/depression, and dizziness.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) reported in ≥2% of pravastatin sodium-treated patients in placebo-controlled trials of up to 8 months duration are identified in Table 1: Table 1: Adverse Reactions in ≥2% of Patients Treated with Pravastatin (Any Dose) and at an Incidence Greater Than Placebo in Short-Term Placebo-Controlled Trials % Placebo N=411 % Any Dose N=902 Nausea/Vomiting 7.1 7.4 Diarrhea 5.6 6.7 Headache 4.6 6.3 Upper Respiratory Infection 5.8 5.9 Angina Pectoris 3.4 4.5 Rash 1.4 4.5 CPK Increased 3.6 4.1 Dizziness 3.4 3.5 ALT Increased 1.2 2.9 Chest Pain 1.9 2.7 Cough 1.7 2.5 Myalgia 1.2 2.3 Influenza 0.7 2 g-GT Increased 1.2 2 Adverse Reactions (regardless of causality) The safety and tolerability of pravastatin sodium at a dose of 80 mg in 2 controlled trials with a mean exposure of 8.6 months was similar to that of pravastatin sodium at lower doses except that 4 out of 464 patients taking 80 mg of pravastatin had a single elevation of CK >10 times ULN compared to 0 out of 115 patients taking 40 mg of pravastatin.
In pravastatin sodium placebo-controlled clinical trials, 21,483 patients (age range 24 to 75 years, 10.3% women, 52.3% White, 0.8% Black, 0.5% Hispanic, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Other, 46.1% not recorded) had a median treatment duration of 261 weeks.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) were pooled from 7 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study [WOS]; Cholesterol and Recurrent Events study [CARE]; Long-term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischemic Disease study [LIPID]; Pravastatin Limitation of Atherosclerosis in the Coronary Arteries study [PLAC I]; Pravastatin, Lipids and Atherosclerosis in the Carotids study [PLAC II]; Regression Growth Evaluation Statin Study [REGRESS]; and Kuopio Atherosclerosis Prevention Study [KAPS]) involving a total of 10,764 patients treated with pravastatin sodium 40 mg and 10,719 patients treated with placebo.
Patients were exposed to pravastatin sodium for a mean of 4 to 5.1 years in WOS, CARE, and LIPID and 1.9 to 2.9 years in PLAC I, PLAC II, KAPS, and REGRESS.
Adverse reactions (regardless of causality) occurring in ≥5% of patients treated with pravastatin sodium in these studies are identified in Table 2.
Table 2: Adverse Reactions in ≥5% of Patients Treated with Pravastatin 40 mg and at an Incidence Greater than Placebo in Long-Term Placebo-Controlled Trials Placebo (N=10,719) % of patients Pravastatin sodium (N=10,764) % of patients Musculoskeletal Pain 24.4 24.9 Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 20.2 21.2 Musculoskeletal Traumatism 9.6 10.2 Chest Pain 9.8 10 Influenza 9 9.2 Fatigue 7.8 8.4 Cough 7.4 8.2 Dizziness 6.6 7.3 Rash (including dermatitis) 7.1 7.2 Sinus Abnormality 6.7 7 Muscle Cramp 4.6 5.1 Adverse Reactions (regardless of causality) No new adverse reactions were identified in a study of pediatric patients with HeFH.
Laboratory Abnormalities Increases in ALT, AST values and CK have been observed.
Transient, asymptomatic eosinophilia has been reported.
Eosinophil counts usually returned to normal despite continued therapy.
Anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia have been reported with statins.
6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of pravastatin sodium.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Musculoskeletal: myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, tendon disorder, polymyositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with statin use.
Nervous System: dysfunction of certain cranial nerves (including alteration of taste, impairment of extraocular movement, facial paresis), peripheral nerve palsy.
Rare postmarketing reports of cognitive impairment (e.g., memory loss, forgetfulness, amnesia, memory impairment, confusion) associated with statin use.
Cognitive impairment was generally nonserious, and reversible upon statin discontinuation, with variable times to symptom onset (1 day to years) and symptom resolution (median of 3 weeks).
Hypersensitivity: anaphylaxis, angioedema, lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, dermatomyositis, vasculitis, purpura, hemolytic anemia, positive ANA, ESR increase, arthritis, arthralgia, asthenia, photosensitivity, chills, malaise, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain, constipation, pancreatitis, hepatitis (including chronic active hepatitis), cholestatic jaundice, fatty change in liver, cirrhosis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, hepatoma, fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure.
Dermatologic: a variety of skin changes (e.g., nodules, discoloration, dryness of mucous membranes, changes to hair/nails), lichen planus.
Renal: urinary abnormality (including dysuria, frequency, nocturia).
Respiratory: dyspnea, interstitial lung disease.
Psychiatric: nightmare.
Reproductive: gynecomastia.
Laboratory Abnormalities: liver function test abnormalities, thyroid function abnormalities.