Cholstat (Pravastatin Sodium)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Cholstat Used For?
Cholstat contains pravastatin sodium, a medication that reduces cholesterol levels in your blood and helps protect you from heart attack or stroke. It works best when combined with a low-fat diet.
Primary Uses
Cholstat is used to: lower high blood cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolaemia); treat people who have had a heart attack or unstable chest pain, even with normal cholesterol; lower cholesterol in heart or kidney transplant patients taking immunosuppressive medicines; reduce the risk of further heart disease and stroke; treat familial high cholesterol in children and teens aged 8 years and older alongside diet and lifestyle changes.
How It Works
There are two types of cholesterol: LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) that can block blood vessels, and HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) that helps remove bad cholesterol. When cholesterol levels are too high, it can stick to blood vessel walls, forming hard areas called plaques that make blood flow difficult. This blocking can lead to heart disease and stroke.
Good to know: Cholstat is not addictive or habit forming.
How to Take Cholstat
Take Cholstat exactly as directed by your doctor. The dose will depend on your cholesterol level and other factors.
Dosage Instructions
The usual starting dose for lowering cholesterol is 10 mg to 20 mg at night, ranging from 10 mg to 80 mg once daily. For stroke or heart attack prevention, the dose is 40 mg per day. For children 8-13 years: 20 mg once daily; for adolescents 14-18 years: 40 mg once daily. Take once daily in the evening before bedtime, preferably on an empty stomach (3 hours after dinner). Swallow tablets whole with water – do not divide tablets. Take at the same time each day for best results.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you forget a dose, take your next dose at the usual time. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- headache
- dizziness
- tiredness
- nervousness
- sleep disturbances including insomnia
- blurred or double vision
- ringing in ears
- nausea
- vomiting
- indigestion
- upset stomach
- wind
- constipation
- diarrhoea
- itching
- rashes
- scalp and hair problems (including hair loss)
- pimples
- bladder problems (painful urination or frequent urination)
- sexual dysfunction
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- allergic reaction symptoms (skin rash, itching, hives, face/lip/tongue swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath)
- unexplained muscle pain
- muscle rupture
- muscle cramps
- muscle tenderness and/or weakness (including eye and facial muscles)
- joint pain
Important Warnings
There are important situations where Cholstat should not be used and conditions that require careful monitoring.
Who Should Not Take Cholstat
Do not take Cholstat if you: are allergic to pravastatin sodium or any ingredients; have ever had liver problems; have had muscle pains from other cholesterol medications; are pregnant or may become pregnant; are breastfeeding.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: liver or kidney problems; increased triglycerides or diabetes; under-active thyroid; central nervous system vascular lesions; hormonal disorders; homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia; muscle disease (pain, tenderness, weakness); myasthenia or ocular myasthenia (muscle weakness conditions). Also inform your doctor if you drink alcohol regularly.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Cholstat if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Check with your doctor if you are planning to become pregnant or breastfeed.
Muscle Weakness Warning: Call your doctor immediately if you have or have had myasthenia (general muscle weakness) or ocular myasthenia (eye muscle weakness), as statins may worsen these conditions.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Cholstat and affect how well it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take.
- other cholesterol-lowering medicines
- bile acid sequestrants
- fibrates (gemfibrozil, fenofibrate)
- colestyramine and colestipol
- ciclosporin
- colchicine
- ketoconazole
- spironolactone
- cimetidine
- nicotinic acid
- macrolides (erythromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin)
- antacids
- lenalidomide
- fusidic acid
- propranolol
- rifampicin
- digoxin
- warfarin or other coumarin anticoagulants
Alcohol & Driving
Be aware of how Cholstat may affect your ability to drive and your alcohol consumption.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Cholstat affects you. Cholstat may cause dizziness and visual disturbances in some people, though it generally doesn’t interfere with driving ability.
Storage
Keep tablets in a cool, dry place where temperature stays below 25°C. Store away from moisture, heat, and sunlight – not in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground. Do not use after expiry date or if tablets have changed in appearance, color, or taste.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Cholstat, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (Australia: 13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
The medication information doesn’t specify exact timing, but your doctor will monitor your cholesterol levels and may arrange blood tests to check how well Cholstat is working for you.
For best results, take Cholstat on an empty stomach, about 3 hours after dinner, in the evening before bedtime.
No, Cholstat is not addictive or habit forming.
Do not stop taking Cholstat suddenly without checking with your doctor first. Your doctor needs to guide you on how to safely discontinue the medication.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. This is important information for your doctor to know when prescribing and monitoring your treatment.
Call your doctor straight away if you notice unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, cramps, or muscle rupture, as these can be serious side effects requiring immediate medical attention.
No, do not give Cholstat to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you. The medication should only be taken by the person it was prescribed for.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.