Pravastatin for High Cholesterol User Reviews (Page 2)

• 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 the right side of my back. Also fatigue with no energy at all, also a spaced-out feeling with a low sex drive. Also not feeling well since being on this medication. Insomnia too. I stopped it 5 days ago and am beginning to feel better. Not sure if it's brought cholesterol down or not because I haven't had any blood tests done since being on this stuff over a year ago. Cholesterol was only 4.2 anyway before medication."

• Cdu...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 28, 2024

"I've been taking Pravastatin for a couple of years. At first, I was apprehensive about taking a statin. I researched and found fewer complaints about Pravastatin. I have had zero side effects while taking 40mg. My cholesterol dropped significantly and is now in the normal range. I can't say anything except it works like it's supposed to."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 29, 2025

"I had a major heart attack in 2017. I was with people and was rushed to the hospital. The next day, I was put on 80 mg of pravastatin. A few days later, I had terrible muscle pain. I knew this could be a side effect. I had gone from nothing to 80 mg overnight. I reduced the dose to 10 mg/day, and there were no side effects. After a couple of weeks, I increased the dose to 20 mg/day. Then, a couple more weeks, I increased the dose to 30 mg, and so on, until I finally reached 80 mg/day. I also split the dose with each increase to take half in the morning and half in the evening rather than all at once. Now I've been on 80 mg, 40 morning and 40 evening, for 7 and a half years. I've had no side effects since building the dose up slowly. My lipid profile is great, and I've had no further heart problems. Now my cardiologist is lowering me to 40 mg/day to see if the lipid profile will hold at that dosage. I will test in a couple of months."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2017

"After genuinely wanting to lower my cholesterol from 8, I tried yet again a statin for the fourth time. I halved this medication down to 10 mg per day. My GP wanted to increase, but knowing all statins give me muscle pain, I decided to keep the medication low. I noticed a lot of weight gain, increasing blood pressure, and a sense of lack of energy. I radically altered my diet. Everything, including cooking oil, all low-fat dairy, and extreme lean meats. Increased veggies and fruit. My BP went from 135/95 to 117/79 within 3 months. My cholesterol dropped to 6.5. Was it the pravastatin? Maybe, very low dose however. Discontinued use due to onset of worsening shoulder pain, left rib cage floating pain, and left neck. Pain was becoming chronic."

• Why...
• January 8, 2017

"Been scripted for various statins over the years, having to change from one to another due to side effects: muscle pain, increased glucose, blurred vision with aching eyes, fatigue, cognitive impairment, headaches, etc. Not sure of the time of onset of each symptom. Am being treated for seasonal affective disorder but am now thinking this is due to statins. Am now off statins and other than mild blurred vision, all symptoms have stopped."

• HCO...
• December 8, 2017

"I have been in the ER twice. I've racked up quite a large bill with the hospital. I've been exposed to needless radiation due to this medicine. I've had severe abdominal cramping, diarrhea, anxiety, confusion, nausea, and insomnia. Never ever again. I thought I was losing my mind. The ER doc was trying so hard to help me, and it was this stupid yellow pill. Never ever ever again."

• Sti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2023

"This pravastatin at 10 mg taken in the evening is causing insomnia. Been in bed since 11 p.m., and it's now 2:30 a.m. and still wide awake and will be up at 7:00 a.m. ...so looks like no sleep tonight again. This has been the same for 3 weeks since starting the pravastatin, managing to get only a couple of hours of sleep each night if lucky. When I stopped taking it for a couple of days, it gave me a withdrawal feeling of anxiety and panic."

• LME...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 8, 2016

"I'm a T1 diabetic. My doctor had me on 20 mg to keep my cholesterol under 100. No side effects. Two years later, she bumped up my dosage to 40 mg when my cholesterol went to 105. Within three days, the joints in my hands and muscles in my lower arms became extremely painful. I'm also very tired. Called my doctor and waiting for a return call. I am not taking this dose again!"

• Ron...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 10, 2020

"Been taking Pravachol 40 mg for the last eight years and CoQ10. My cholesterol has been good. No side effects whatsoever. Recently, I have developed neuropathy (numbness) in my feet. Specialists said there is no treatment and that it will only get worse over time. I wonder if the cholesterol medication could be a factor."

• mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2018

"My cardiologist changed me from simvastatin to this medicine in October 2016. In 2 weeks, I was hospitalized with 90% loss of legs. Once taken off this medicine, I left the hospital 3 days later with legs at 75% and improving. I have since gone back on simvastatin, and I have had full recovery that has lasted for the last 18 months."

• Not...
• July 22, 2016

"Ok, so I am 80 mg a day, and I feel sick at my stomach and cannot eat very much (but I had the same feeling after my gallbladder was removed, the nausea feeling). I am somewhat scared because my doctor said this medication had fewer side effects. But I wake up feeling sick to my stomach, and it's not a good feeling at all. My cholesterol is very high, and I am scared, and I have high blood pressure, so I am trying to do what my doctor says to do. I feel like I am about to just eat oatmeal and that cereal that lowers cholesterol. Only been on it a week."

• sbe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2017

"After taking one pill in the evening, the next morning I woke up feeling dizzy, anxious, nervous, and just tired. The feelings have not dissipated throughout the day. This is the second type of statin drug my doctor has prescribed for me. The first one (a generic for Lipitor) made me feel the same way. I cannot function with this drug. Will not be taking it again. Wasted $10.00. I hate that."

• LMT...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2023

Pravastatin "Took Pravachol for 6 months and immediately had an achy pain in my legs. I walk a lot all day because I walk my dog. After taking this medication, I had to ask my husband to walk her often because the pain was too great for me to walk her. I'm 72 years old, female, and I have always been very active. I could not continue Pravachol because of the pain level. I stopped with my doctor's approval for 6 months. My cholesterol shot back up to a very high rate, as before. I have restarted this medication and will see the doctor in three months. I hope there is another medication for cholesterol that I may take without negative side effects. It does work well and did reduce my cholesterol. I took 10 mg tablets."

• MAP...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 1, 2021

"I have been taking Pravastatin for about 8 years and take 80 mg per day. I am 65, and it has lowered overall cholesterol from the 260s to the 160s. I have the usual aches and pains of anyone my age, but I don't attribute them to the medication. I never miss a dose and am very happy with the results!"

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 19, 2021

"I love pravastatin. I take the 10 mg. I have no side effects. My cholesterol dropped 100 points in 1 month. I did diet too. It is the only statin I can take that does not give me any side effects. It also comes in a white pill. I am allergic to dye, so it is perfect. I'm thankful for pravastatin and this company for making it in a white pill."

• Moo...
• December 15, 2022

"For the first two weeks, I didn’t have any muscle problems. In the third week, I could barely walk, climb stairs, or get out of my car. I discontinued the medication. Suddenly, I couldn’t raise my left arm. The information on the pamphlet from the pharmacy stated if you had trouble lifting your arm, call your doctor immediately! I went to urgent care, but they wouldn’t let me leave or drive because they feared that I had a stroke. They sent me to the ER. They admitted me overnight for observation, and I had a brain MRI to see if I had a stroke. The MRI came back good, so I also had a chest X-ray, which had good results. The shoulder pain is getting better, but I still can’t raise my arm, the internist suspects it’s a rotator cuff issue. I will be going to an orthopedic doctor to have this checked out soon. I will never take this medication again."

• Doc...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 26, 2022

"Started nearly ten years ago with pravastatin. Very bitter taste when administered, but it subsides after drinking water. Slow onset of muscular and joint pain, which has severely increased over time. My back pain increased, and now I have joint pain in my feet, wrists, and back of the neck. Migraines have increased, but the etiology may be a combination of other things. Sleep decreased, and now I have sleep apnea. Periodic symptoms of vertigo, and my weight is hard to shed. Now I have thyroid issues. My age is 52. This is a long list of side effects, but the alternative could be stroke or death. Looking for alternative meds because diet and exercise did not work to control my levels. Dose 40 mg/night. This med is very effective, but side effects have become unbearable."

• Son...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2021

"Took 10 mg of this medicine for about 5 weeks and ended in A&E with severe pain in the chest. I thought I was having a heart attack, but my heart was fine, had palpitations, increased blood pressure, and also could not eat anything sweet as my heart would race like crazy after the smallest bite of sweets. I had insomnia, waking up every hour, not being able to get a few hours of sleep in one go. I stopped it for 2 months and it went away, but I am back on it now again for about 2 weeks, and it is even worse. Have an appointment with a cardiologist in 2 days, so will see to get off of this as my body seems to not tolerate it."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 24, 2023

"This is the only statin that I can tolerate. My doctor tried me on 2 others and both gave me severe muscle pain in hips and legs. Now on 40 mg daily of pravastatin with no issues. Everyone is different but this one works for me."

• Dal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2023

"Started out fine. But after a few weeks, bone pain, muscle pain. I ached everywhere. I finally stopped taking it, and my muscle issues are a bit better. I hope it will continue to get better. I can't stand the pain. I will try red rice yeast instead."

• Mel...
• March 12, 2021

"Started Pravastatin 20 mg, gosh, around 2-3 years ago due to high cholesterol. It brought my cholesterol right down to brilliant, however, around 2 years ago, I developed severe breast pain, which is mainly on my left side but does affect both breasts. Blood tests are always fine, CT scan fine, menopause test, and I'm not menopausal, and mammogram also fine. My GP was at a loss about what it is! (useless) They asked another GP, one who's never even seen me, it was passed back to my GP to tell me it's mastalgia!! To take evening primrose and vitamin B complex/compound, all of which I have to buy at £6.50 each with no luck. Yesterday, I purchased vitamin E as that's supposed to help, as no pain reliever touches it. Today, I thought, hmm, I'll look up about statins, and well, it appears statins can cause muscle pain and muscle damage. I've thought the pain is not my actual breasts, it could be the chest wall!! I've stopped taking it, and I'll inform my GP."

• Tin...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 3, 2021

"July 12. My doctor explained to me, with all examinations due, my body pains were all negative, that my pains were due to pravastatin 40 mg and removed my medication for 30 days. When I have been with this medication 8 years. I am resentful that this medication has given me 3 years of pain and complications. Can this be a claim."

• Pra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 25, 2022

"This is the third statin I have tried. I started with 20 mg a day. My legs, knees, and hips started hurting. It really hurt to walk up and down stairs. I lowered the dose to 10 mg a day. The pain persisted. Now I’m taking 10 mg every other day with CoQ10. I still have a little pain, but it is tolerable. I will take a blood test tomorrow to see if this low dose will help my cholesterol. Fingers crossed."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 30, 2023

"Decreased my cholesterol from 5-10 to 4-6. It gives me painful joints, but sometimes I miss a day and take lecithin or plant sterol capsules with a low saturated diet. I'm on 10 mg now (half of the 20 mg tablet)."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 22, 2022

"I have been taking pravastatin 20 mg for two years. I have been having progressive trouble walking, my neurologist diagnosed idiopathic neuropathy. I had every test the doctor could think of... everything is normal. I went to ENT to see if my ears were causing the unsteadiness. Nope, perfectly normal. My primary care doctor ordered a test for circulation, normal. This is all good news, except I still have gait abnormality and unsteadiness. Primary care sent me to physical therapy. She was very good, but no improvement. She was teaching me how to use a cane and walker."