Can pravastatin cause kidney problems?

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Pravastatin!

What is pravastatin, you might ask? Well, it’s a drug that lowers your cholesterol levels and reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease. Sounds like a dream come true for all those unhealthy eaters out there.

But wait! The rumor mill has been churning out stories about how this wonder drug can also cause renal failure or kidney damage. Is there any truth to these allegations? Or are they just idle rumors spread by people who have never even set foot in a medical school?

Let’s find out once and for all if pravastatin can cause kidney problems.

What is Pravastatin

First things first, let’s understand what pravastatin really is:

  • A medication used to treat high cholesterol and prevent heart attacks
  • Belongs to the class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (‘statins’)
  • Lowers total blood cholesterol levels by reducing LDL (the ‘bad’ type)

Now, why would anyone want to take something with such an intimidating name? You guessed it – because we all love our junk foods a bit too much sometimes.

Moving on…

How Does Pravastatin Work

So how does this so-called heart savior work?

When consumed orally, pravastatin enters the bloodstream and reduces the production of LDL cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase (remember that scary term?). Over time, as more LDL disappears from our body, its harmful effects are reduced too – lower risk of blockages in blood vessels means less chance of having a dangerous attack or stroke (phew, that was close).

Neat huh?!

However…

Can Taking Pravstatin Cause Kidney Problems?

Nowadays everything comes with fine print warnings. Kinda like “Read Terms & Conditions” before agreeing, only more important!

The pravastatin label does include rare reports of kidney damage, but that doesn’t mean everyone who takes it will end up with renal failure. After all, anything can have side effects (even chocolate).

But don’t start panicking yet! The incidence rate is low and most studies suggest that the benefits outweigh the risks for people with high cholesterol or at risk of heart disease.

In fact…

What Do Studies Say?

And since we mentioned ‘studies’, we should probably take a look at some to support our claims (researcher mode on!)

  • In a large-scale study from 2019 involving around 34k patients taking statins long term, researchers found no significant difference in rates of acute kidney disease between those taking statins versus those not
  • Another study performed over 4 years showed similar results across different types/forms of statins and concluded that there wasn’t enough evidence to indicate an increased risk of chronic kidney disease with any type

But if you’re still skeptical…

Who Should Be Concerned?

It’s always advisable to consult your doctor if you’re worried about possible complications caused by medications – they would know best afterall.

Additionally:

  • Patients above the age of 65 might be more susceptible due to decreased clearance rate through kidneys
  • Those specifying history of liver problems, diabetes or preexisting conditions related to kidneys/urea may need to avoid using Pravstatin completely

So just make sure you are making informed decisions after discussing this medication thoroughly instead buying into every rumor that comes floating around.

Things You Can Do To Look After Your Kidneys

Since we care about your overall health here are some additional measures you could incorporate (tips hat):

  1. Drink plenty water everyday (duh!, but sometimes necessary)
  2. Regular exercise
  3. Avoid smoking /heavy alcohol intake
  4. Manage blood sugar levels (crucial for diabetics anyway)
  5. Monitor blood pressure regularly
  6. Cut back on sodium rich diet.

All of these practices contribute to an overall healthier body, and your kidneys will thank you too!

Now that we’ve established what pravastatin is, how it works, who should be concerned about its effects on the kidney and steps you can take to maintain optimal renal health…

It’s safe to trust in the miracle statin again! Remember prevention is better than cure which might have side-effects as well!

Cheers 🍻

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