Description: Pravastatin is the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, which reduce cholesterol biosynthesis. These agents are competitive inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the enzyme catalyzing the early rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis, conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate.
Action: 1. decresed cholesterol synthesis.
2. decresed cholesterol content of hepatic cells.
3. increased LDL-receptor synthesis, enhaced LDL clearance
4. increased HDL-cholesterol 5-15%, decresed triglyceride 7-30% and LDL-cholesterol 20-35%.
Pharmacokinetics: average absorption of pravastatin 34%; bioavailability 17%; time to peak conc 1~1.5 hrs; elimination half life 1.5~2 hrs; fist pass extraction in the liver (extraction ratio 0.66); protein binding 55%.
Pravastatin sodium USP