Comprehensive medication guide to Pravastatin including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$15 copay for generic Pravastatin on most commercial insurance plans; typically Tier 1 (preferred generic) on most formularies including Medicare Part D and Medicaid.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$120–$305 retail for a 30-day supply of generic Pravastatin without a coupon; as low as $9–$17 per month with a free GoodRx or SingleCare discount card at most pharmacies.
Medfinder Findability Score
88/100
Summarize with AI
On this page
Pravastatin is a prescription medication used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events including heart attack and stroke. It belongs to the statin class of drugs (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors), which are the most widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications in the world. Pravastatin was originally sold under the brand name Pravachol, but only generic versions are available in the United States today.
Pravastatin is FDA-approved to treat primary hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, and mixed dyslipidemia in adults, and for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in children aged 8 and older. It is also approved for cardiovascular event prevention in patients with or at high risk for coronary artery disease. In 2023, Pravastatin was the 57th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with over 11 million prescriptions filled.
Pravastatin is listed on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines and has a well-established safety profile backed by over 112,000 patient-years of clinical trial data. It is taken once daily by mouth, with or without food, and is suitable for most adults and children over age 8.
We have a 99% success rate finding medications, even during nationwide shortages.
Need this medication?
Pravastatin works by blocking an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme controls the rate-limiting step in the body's cholesterol production pathway — converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate. By competitively and reversibly inhibiting this enzyme, Pravastatin reduces the liver's internal cholesterol synthesis.
When liver cells sense reduced cholesterol synthesis, they respond by increasing the number of LDL receptors on their surface. These receptors capture LDL ("bad") cholesterol from the bloodstream and remove it. This dual effect — reduced production plus increased clearance — is the primary mechanism by which Pravastatin lowers blood LDL levels. At doses of 40–80 mg, Pravastatin can reduce LDL by 30–50%.
Unlike Atorvastatin and Simvastatin, Pravastatin is not significantly metabolized by CYP3A4 enzymes in the liver. This makes it a hydrophilic (water-soluble) statin with limited uptake into non-hepatic tissue, a lower risk of drug-drug interactions with CYP3A4 inhibitors, and no significant interaction with grapefruit juice. Pravastatin also inhibits VLDL synthesis, reducing triglycerides, and produces a modest increase in HDL ("good") cholesterol.
10 mg — tablet
Starting dose for patients with severe renal impairment or on cyclosporine
20 mg — tablet
Low-to-moderate intensity dose; typical dose for children ages 8-13
40 mg — tablet
Standard adult starting dose; moderate intensity; typical dose for adolescents 14-18
80 mg — tablet
Maximum adult dose; moderate intensity at upper range
Pravastatin is one of the most widely available generic medications in the United States. As of 2026, it is not listed on the FDA Drug Shortage Database or the ASHP shortage list. With more than a dozen active generic manufacturers — including Teva, Zydus, Cipla, and Glenmark — the national supply is stable and robust.
That said, individual pharmacies can still experience temporary stock-outs due to local demand spikes, delayed wholesale deliveries, or specific strength shortfalls. These localized gaps are typically resolved within 1–2 business days. Pravastatin is available at virtually all retail chain pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid), big-box stores (Costco, Walmart, Sam's Club), and mail-order pharmacies (Amazon Pharmacy, Cost Plus Drugs).
If your pharmacy is out of Pravastatin, medfinder can contact nearby pharmacies to check which ones have your medication in stock and can fill your prescription — no hold music, no multiple calls required. Results are sent to you by text.
Pravastatin is not a controlled substance and has no special DEA prescribing requirements. Any licensed healthcare provider with prescribing authority can prescribe Pravastatin, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants in most states. Telehealth prescriptions are fully permitted.
Primary care physicians (family medicine, internal medicine)
Cardiologists
Endocrinologists
Geriatricians
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs)
Pediatricians (for HeFH in children aged 8+)
Pravastatin is readily available through telehealth in 2026. Platforms such as Teladoc, MDLive, Amazon Clinic, and Sesame can connect patients with licensed providers who can review cholesterol history and prescribe Pravastatin without an in-person visit.
No. Pravastatin is not a controlled substance. It is not scheduled by the DEA and does not carry any of the restrictions associated with controlled substances, such as prescription limits, special dispensing requirements, or triplicate prescriptions.
Because Pravastatin is not a controlled substance, it can be prescribed via telehealth appointments without any special authorization, and pharmacies can dispense it without controlled substance tracking requirements. Prescriptions may be called in, faxed, or sent electronically by any licensed prescriber with prescribing authority, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants in most states.
Pravastatin is generally well-tolerated. Common side effects include:
Muscle or joint pain (myalgia)
Nausea or stomach upset
Diarrhea
Headache
Upper respiratory symptoms (runny nose, sore throat)
Fatigue
Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis: Severe muscle breakdown that can lead to kidney failure. Stop medication and call doctor immediately if you have unexplained severe muscle pain or weakness, especially with dark urine.
Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy (IMNM): Rare autoimmune muscle disease that may persist after stopping the statin.
Hepatic dysfunction: Rare liver injury. Signs include jaundice, upper right abdominal pain, and dark urine.
New-onset diabetes: Class-wide statin effect; modest increase in risk, outweighed by cardiovascular benefits for most patients.
Know what you need? Skip the search.
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
More potent high-intensity statin; reduces LDL by 36-51%; most widely prescribed statin in the US; metabolized by CYP3A4
Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
Most potent statin; reduces LDL by 45-55%; also hydrophilic; minimal CYP3A4 metabolism; doses 5-40 mg
Simvastatin (Zocor)
Moderate intensity statin; CYP3A4 substrate with grapefruit interaction; 80 mg dose restricted by FDA
Lovastatin (Mevacor)
Low-to-moderate intensity; one of the oldest statins; taken with evening meal for best absorption
Prefer Pravastatin? We can find it.
Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
majorInhibits OATP1B1 transporters, dramatically increasing Pravastatin levels; significantly raises risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis
Cyclosporine
majorOATP1B1 inhibitor; increases Pravastatin exposure; maximum Pravastatin dose with cyclosporine is 20 mg daily
Colchicine
majorPharmacodynamic synergism; increases risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis; cases of fatalities reported
Red Yeast Rice
majorContains monacolin K (identical to lovastatin); combining with Pravastatin significantly increases myopathy risk
Clarithromycin
moderateP-gp inhibitor; increases Pravastatin levels; maximum Pravastatin dose with clarithromycin is 40 mg daily
Niacin (high dose)
moderatePharmacodynamic synergism; increases myopathy risk when combined with statins
Fenofibrate
moderateLower interaction risk than gemfibrozil; modest increase in myopathy risk; combination is approved but requires monitoring
Cholestyramine / Colestipol (bile acid sequestrants)
minorReduces Pravastatin absorption; take Pravastatin 1 hour before or 4 hours after these medications
Pravastatin is a well-established, affordable, and widely available statin that has been helping patients lower cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk since 1991. With a unique pharmacological profile — hydrophilic, minimal CYP3A4 metabolism, no grapefruit interaction — it occupies an important niche, particularly for patients on complex medication regimens or those who have experienced muscle side effects with other statins.
In 2026, Pravastatin is not in a national shortage. It is manufactured by more than a dozen generic companies and is stocked at virtually every pharmacy in the country. If you encounter a localized stock-out, it is almost certainly temporary. The best strategies are to try a nearby pharmacy, use a mail-order service, or ask your provider about a temporary dose modification.
If you're having trouble finding Pravastatin at your local pharmacy, medfinder can contact pharmacies near you to find which ones have your prescription in stock. Results are texted directly to you — no hold music, no multiple calls required.
Medfinder Editorial Standards
Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
ChatGPT
Claude
Perplexity
Grok
Gemini