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Pravastatin for High Cholesterol User Reviews

Pravastatin has an average rating of 4.6 out of 10 from a total of 61 reviews for the treatment of High Cholesterol. 26% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 49% reported a negative experience.

Pravastatin rating summary

4.6/10 average rating

61 ratings from 67 user reviews.

Compare all 293 medications used in the treatment of High Cholesterol.

10
16%
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3%
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7%
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7%
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0%
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13%
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5%
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10%
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10%
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Reviews for Pravastatin

  • Anonymous
  • November 29, 2011

"I took this medicine for about 3 years. About 6 months ago, my dosage was increased from 20 mg to 40 mg. At first there were no problems. After a couple of months, I started having shortness of breath, chest pain, tremors, fatigue and vomiting. I went to the ER with chest pains and shortness of breath. They could find nothing wrong with my heart. I was sent to a cardiologist to have Holter monitoring, echocardiagram and stress test. Nothing. Had a pulmonary function test. Nothing. The pravastatin brought my cholesterol down to 177, so my doctor took me off of it to see if it made any difference with all my health problems. It did. Within 3 days I was starting to feel better. Within a week I was back to my old self again."

5 / 10
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417 Report
  • Babef...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 23, 2020

"Pravastatin has caused me to get severe cramping in my legs. It has caused some memory loss. I have been getting the most severe pain in my big toe at night when I sleep. I wasn't sure it was from the med but it seems to have gone away since I stopped it. Also I have developed a horrible rash under my breasts which I never had before. Now that I stopped the pravastatin it seems to be going away. I don't know what to do because I think that I need a statin because of clogged arteries and high cholesterol but the side effects were too much to handle. I am considering going on a vegan diet which is not the kind of food I usually eat. But I have to do something. My doctor yells at me when I go in for a checkup. If anyone has any suggestions please write. I am a 70 yo woman. Thank you for reading this."

2 / 10
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147 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 10, 2011

Pravachol (pravastatin) "Within 2 weeks of being on 40mg of Pravachol, I began noticing muscle weakness in my shoulders, wrist and knees. I later discovered that these are possible side effects of this medication. I noticed remarkable improvements after stopping the medication."

1 / 10
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353 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Diano
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 28, 2019

"I was prescribed 10mg Pravastatin after getting muscle pain on atorvastatin. Took Prevastatin for 6 weeks & started noticing breakthrough reflux while on PPI (proton pump inhibitor for reflux) which I have been for 5 years with no problems. Within 8 weeks I had severe reflux while on PPI, H2 inhibitors and antacid along with severe upper digestive pain, nausea and cramping. I couldn’t eat anything or even drink water without belching constantly. I had to sleep sitting up. I stopped the pravastatin and the digestive symptoms went away so I started the Pravastatin again. 4 days later... digestive issues again but worse. Stopped again & feeling much better after 1week. I’m done with statins. I lowered my cholesterol by 53 points by eliminating red meat except once a week and eating oatmeal 5 times a week."

2 / 10
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156 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 8, 2011

"I immediately experienced muscle pain and chest tightness (the heart is a muscle). I also ended up in the ER after feeling faint with left foot numbness. The medication did, however, significantly lower my cholesterol. I have since discontinued the medicine on my own."

2 / 10
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275 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • My Dad
  • August 15, 2019

"My dad was on this drug for over a decade and his cholesterol only slightly elevated. He was not overweight, fit, a non-smoker and a social drinker. He had symptoms of muscle weakness in the legs and seemed foggy. He was found on the floor one morning in what looked like a seizure. He came to by the time the paramedics arrived. They could not find anything wrong and told him it was food poisoning at the ER, but they never gave him a brain scan. Side note, you lose control with strokes. We know now it really was a small hemorrhagic stroke. 6 years later it happened again but more severe. He was left paralyzed, unable to swallow or speak. After surgery and 4 weeks in recovery, we had to make the excruciating decision to put him in hospice, where he died at the age of 74. All of his relatives have lived well into their nineties. Avoid taking this or other statins unless you have had a heart attack or your cholesterol is extreme."

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119 Report
  • Mar
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • December 20, 2019

"With any statin, you must take Q10. Q10 is an enzyme in your body that becomes depleted after long term use of any statin. Lack of this enzyme causes joint pain. Talk to your doctor about how much Q10 to take with your statin. Also, having worked for the company that makes Pravachol, it is one of the mildest statins with very few few if any side effects. It works well too."

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98 Report
  • bdriver
  • January 3, 2017

"Thought all my issues were from babysitting 3 kids under 5 for 5 years. Brain fog, blurry vision, severe muscle and joint pain in mid and lower back,anxious, awful Charlie horses in foot,leg pain, feeling like I aged 10 years. Been to 2 spine docs, chiro for 6 months, physical therapy, unlimited trips to my GP. (yes you have stress) no kidding I am in pain. Not one Doc said it was my meds. Finally going to a pain management doc for my back. My elbows started to hurt over summer and when I mentioned it to him he I said could it be pravistatin he said he has seen it before. Stopped pravistatin 2 months ago, fog is gone, no charlie horses, anxious well down, back is FINALLY starting to feel better. I am so mad no Dr ever mentioned it!"

4 / 10
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127 Report
  • Eddie
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • August 22, 2020

"I started Pravastatin over five years ago and it did lower my bad cholesterol. However, my legs began aching badly after a few years. I attributed it to my lower back pain until I had a procedure for my back that burned the nerves. This helped my back but didn't help my never ending leg pain. My upper and lower leg muscles burned and ached, the back of my knees and ankles hurt to the point that it was hard to walk, and my urine turned brown. My doctor stopped the Pravastatin and the pain gradually lightened, giving me hope that it will eventually stop. It has been three weeks and I hope to be off pain pills eventually. Never again will I take a statin. It did its best to debilitate me completely but it did lower my cholesterol. The price of pain was too high."

1 / 10
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71 Report
  • Skyler
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 15, 2020

"I eat healthy, exercise 5 days a week and my total cholesterol was 250. The NP put me on this, I took it a week and flushed it. Suffered severe stomach and abdomen pain. Yeah it lowers your cholesterol because your too afraid to eat anything. Would rather take my chances with the cholesterol than take this any day of the week. Anyone remember when Lipitor came out on the market and all of a sudden the levels of what was considered "high" cholesterol went down to increase sales?"

1 / 10
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71 Report
  • Anonymous
  • May 10, 2017

Pravachol (pravastatin) "Lowered my bad LDL from 180 to 95 in 6 months, on only 20 mg daily. Only side effect is my legs get sore when I walk distances that never bothered me before. However, with a little rest, I'm ok. Pravachol is MUCH better than Lipitor, which I threw away after a week due to leg and joint pain."

9 / 10
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107 Report
  • Graham
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • November 25, 2013

"I am experiencing severe gas and loose bowels. Everytime I eat something it seems to run right through me. Also increased urination. Stomach cramps so this is a battle lower my cholesterol or be on the toilet everytime I eat!"

5 / 10
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141 Report
  • BigMck
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 22, 2016

"This caused severe dizzyness, memory problems, erection problems. Be sure and read the side effects before taking. Chances are you will have most of them. After I stopped taking it took about a week before I noticed the dizzyness going away. After three weeks, things were back to normal. Just be very aware of this drug. It was bad news for me. The only way that I realized it was this drug that was causing my problems were the reviews by other people taking this. Read the reviews and believe what you read. They are true."

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109 Report
  • h2osu...
  • June 2, 2015

"After four weeks, taking the Pravastatin as prescribed by the Doctor, I was unable to move. My wrist was too sore to move, my right shoulder was too sore to use and I could not put any weight on my knees. Five months after discontinuance of the Pravastatin, pain in those four areas has diminished to the point that am nearly 85% functional. Had I known about the side affects of Pravastatin, I would have never taken them!"

1 / 10
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109 Report
  • Leelee
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 5, 2018

"Where to start!!! My whole body hurt. I'm 37 years old feeling like I was trapped in a 90 year old body. Bad Headaches, lack of sleep, stinky urine, weight gain, fatigue, memory loss, crazy thoughts tired every 30 minutes, breast were very sore and irritable to everything and everyone but my loved ones forgave me once I stopped taking the medicine lol On the 4th day of not taking it I broke out in a very bad sweat and then I felt wonderful!!! Never again!!!"

1 / 10
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79 Report
  • Pookie
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 14, 2021

"I am only taking 5 mg 2 times a week and I am still so sick, tired, dizzy, reflux, stomach hurts, joints hurt, tips of fingers pain. Itching rash on neck, anxiety worse, hard to breath at times, heart palpitations, nausea. Just can't live like this can't leave my home cause I am so sick from this stuff. Been on this for 2 months now. I have to stop it. Statins are really hard for some people. My husband takes pravastatin 40 mg and has no problem. Lucky him. I can't handle it. Done with it."

8 / 10
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48 Report
  • Haggy
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 20, 2019

"Been on statins off and on. In the beginning they blew me up on them. HIGH DOSES... Now even 10mg and the back of my legs burn. Doctor wanted me to do 20mg even tho I told him I would hurt. So.. I took 10mg yesterday and bam.... legs burning today. We will see how long I can go this time before I say I'm done. My problem is heredity. I eat great.."

3 / 10
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69 Report
  • rosea...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 30, 2017

"I've taken 3 types of cholesterol med now on or was ( took my self off today) Pravastatin 20 mg. This stuff feels like it is killing me . My eye surgeon said they tried to put his wife on this stuff 'STATINS' He said over his dead body. I sure wish I had told them that to as I am so disabled now ! Can hardly walk, move, stand, shoulders ache, foggy , dizzy, blurred vision, insomnia, heart palpitations ( heart checks out good), pain in upper chest, weight gain, feet painfully burning and Gout. Dr also diagnosed me with polymyalgia rheumatica and carotenoid dermatitis since on this poison, No never again. I don't want to feel like I am 90 I am only 65. Folks I need a wheelchair!!"

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78 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 5, 2015

"After taking 20 mg of pravastatin for about 3 weeks, 1x day, my blood pressure started to go extremely high, in the range of 175/97. It remained about at this level for about 4 days until my doctor said to stop taking it. In about 3 days my pressure dropped back to normal which for me, is about 135/82. I am a 71 yr. female in otherwise good health. Quite a shocking experience. This is a new side effect for this drug."

5 / 10
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90 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 7, 2017

"This is the 4th statin I've tried. After 3 weeks of Pravastatin 10mg, I am sore, stiff, and ache in shoulder, neck, legs and feet. Also feeling like I am not thinking straight, like I am super stupid. I am frustrated because I want to get cholesterol under control but I refuse to try any more statins."

1 / 10
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75 Report
  • Stephen...
  • October 5, 2016

"I have been on pravastatin for nearly five months. Two months ago I felt soreness in my wrists. One month ago soreness and weakness in both knees. I will call my treating physician tomorrow. I can hardly get up from a sitting position."

4 / 10
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69 Report
  • jstacy
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • July 20, 2018

Pravachol (pravastatin) "I've taken atorvastatin, Crestor, Zetia, then pravachol for nearly five years after quadruple bypass surgery (no previous symptoms, discovered need on X-ray for pneumonia!). Except for Zetia, which is not a statin and did NOTHING for my cholesterol which was not excessively high anyway, ALL three others have given me SEVERE muscle pain, mostly calves and biceps, making me move as if I were quite elderly and collapsing under me without notice. The pain is unrelenting, even in bed at night. 20% supposedly have this reaction, and most stop taking the statin--cardiologist threatens me, says I can't, so I've given myself my second shot of Repatha (not a statin) in the belly (cost/once a month/$1000 without insurance, $355 with mine). Lousy price to pay (not a play on words) for lowering cholesterol--excruciating pain or lotsa dollars...IF the shot works!"

5 / 10
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54 Report
  • susan...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 12, 2015

"The good thing is my cholesterol is under control after three months. The bad thing is my right fore arm hurts when I pick up anything. I also have a rash on my upper lip but not sure it has anything to do with the pravastatin. I am taking one thing away at a time to figure it out."

8 / 10
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73 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • January 3, 2021

"On 10 mg pravastatin at night, it gave me lots of pain all over especially right side of back. Also fatigue with no energy at all also spaced out feeling with low sex drive. Also not well feeling since on this medication. Insomnia too. Stopped it 5 days ago and beginning to feel better. Not sure if its bought cholesterol down or not because not had any blood tests done since being on this stuff over a year ago. Cholesterol only 4.2 anyway before medication."

10 / 10
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33 Report
  • Again
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • March 11, 2022

"Cholesterol was 4.2 when I started 10 mg Pravastatin 1 tablet to be taken at night. Was on it 17 months. It gave me very severe pain on right side of the back area with spacey feeling, insomnia and very low sex drive. Also was causing left leg to buckle when walking with fatigue and very low energy causing me to feel generally unwell and unable to excercise. I am male with normal blood pressure and otherwise healthy and was walking 5 miles every day before medicine. 10 mg Pravastatin was not effective at maintaining or lowering cholesterol as it was 5 on a blood test. I stopped taking Pravastatin because of the side effects and the right back pain took about 6 weeks to resolve. When the cholesterol was done again after being off the tablet 6 weeks the cholesterol was 4."

1 / 10
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23 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.