WARNING: Children and teenagers should not use aspirin, aspirin-containing or aspirin-related medications for flu symptoms or chickenpox without first consulting a doctor. A rare but serious illness known as Reye's syndrome may occur.
USES: The medications in this product are a "statin" (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor) and aspirin. Pravastatin works by lowering cholesterol (LDL) and fat (triglycerides) levels in your blood. Aspirin in low doses acts as a "blood thinner" preventing blood clots. When used along with a cholesterol-lowering diet, these medications reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. In general, pravastatin is prescribed after non-drug treatment options have not been fully successful at lowering cholesterol (e.g., diet change, increase in exercise, weight loss if overweight).
HOW TO USE: Take these medicines by mouth usually once daily or as directed by your doctor. Pravastatin is best taken in the evening, with or without food. The buffered aspirin may be taken with food if stomach upset occurs. Also, you should take the aspirin with a full glass of water (8 oz or 240 ml) unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking it. Dosage is based on your medical condition, response to therapy, and use of certain interacting medicines. Many of the drugs listed in the Drug Interactions section may increase the chances of muscle injury when used with pravastatin. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. If you also take certain other drugs to lower your cholesterol (bile acid-binding resins such as cholestyramine or colestipol), take pravastatin at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after these drugs. The antacids in the buffered aspirin may decrease the absorption of other medicines if taken at the same time. Take the following medications at least 2 hours before or after this product: delavirdine, gabapentin, levothyroxine, quinidine, or tetracyclines (e.g., tetracycline, minocycline). If you are taking a quinolone antibiotic (e.g., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin), check with your pharmacist for the exact amount of time to separate the doses of the quinolone and the buffered aspirin. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same time each day. It may take up to 4 weeks before the full benefit of this drug takes effect. Do not stop taking this medication without checking with your doctor. It is important to continue taking these medications even if you feel well. Most people with high cholesterol or triglycerides do not feel sick. This medication comes with a patient information leaflet. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions you may have about this medicine.
A stroke results from impaired oxygen delivery to brain cells via the bloodstream. A stroke is also referred to as a CVA, or cerebrovascular incident. Symptoms of stroke include: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance, and/or sudden severe headache with no known cause. A TIA, or transient ischemic attack is a short-lived temporary impairment of the brain caused by loss of blood supply. Stroke is a medical emergency.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a vein located deep in the muscles of the legs, thighs, pelvis (lower torso), or arms. The most common symptoms of a deep vein thrombosis are swelling and pain in the leg that has the blood clot. A DVT is difficult to diagnose without specific tests in which the deep vein system can be examined.
Cholesterol is naturally produced by the body, and is a building block for cell membranes and hormones. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol, conversely, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol. High cholesterol treatment includes lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), and medications such as statins, bile acid resins, and fibric acid derivatives.
Heart attack happens when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary
artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. A heart attack can cause chest pain, heart failure, and electrical
instability of the heart.
Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. A person has traditionally been
considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight.
That ideal weight must take into account the person's height, age, sex, and
build.
Cholesterol occurs naturally in the body. High blood cholesterol levels increase a person's risk of developing heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, TIAs, and more. In addition to medication (fibrates, statins, bile acid sequestrants, and niacin), lifestyle changes can be made to lower blood cholesterol levels
Brain cell function requires a constant delivery of oxygen and glucose from the bloodstream. A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. Blood flow can be compromised by a variety of mechanisms.
Blockage of an artery
Narrowing of the small arteries within the brain can cause a lacunar stroke, (lacune
means "empty space"). Blockage of a single arteriole can affect a tiny area of brain causing that tissue to
die (infarct).
Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) leading to the brain. There are four major blood vessels that supply the brain with blood.
The anterior circulation of the brain that controls most motor activity, sensation, thought, speech, and emotion is supplied by the carotid arteries.
The posterior circulation, which supplies the brainstem and the cer...
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