Pravastatin is an antilipemic agent indicated for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia.
It belongs to the group of drugs known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors which includes fluvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin. Pravastatin is more hydrophilic than the other members of this group unlike the others, pravastatin does not require hydrolysis for activation. Pravastatin was approved by the FDA in October 1991. In November 1995, a study was published documenting the benefit of pravastatin for primary prophylaxis of myocardial infarction in men with hypercholesterolemia. Pravastatin exerts its lipid-lowering effect in two ways.