What Causes Severe Cough After Taking Pravastatin?

Posted on Tue, 4 Aug 2015

Question: I have a concern about a medication that I just recently started. It is Pravastatin as my cholesterol is 277. I have tried several medications
for this situation and I do not tolerate them at all. I am now having a nagging cough. I did not have this cough before taking this medication.
I have had cholesterol of over 200 for 23 years, but since it was this high, I wanted to try it one more time, but this cough is something I think will go
away. Thank you for your service. XXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Alternative statins if cough persists

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

Pravastatin is a statin drug working to reduce cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides which overall reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and any subsequent cardiovascular and cerevbrovascular disease/event. Cough is a known side effect associated with pravastatin and occurs in about 3 percent of patients. Mostly , its self limiting. If the cough persists then other statins like simvastatin or atorvastatin can be tried after consulting your doctor.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107

Dr. M.S. Khalil

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar