Fenofibrate/pravastatin
Fenofibrate/pravastatin (trade name Pravafenix) is a combination drug for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol levels) in adults whose low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is already being controlled with pravastatin alone but who still need to improve their cholesterol levels and to reduce their levels of triglycerides.[1] It contains fenofibrate and pravastatin.[1] It is taken by mouth.[1]
Combination of | |
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Fenofibrate | Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist |
Pravastatin | Statin |
Clinical data | |
Trade names | Pravafenix |
License data | |
Routes of administration | By mouth |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
Legal status |
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Identifiers | |
KEGG |
The most common side effects are abdominal distension (bloating), abdominal pain (stomach ache), constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia (heartburn), eructation (belching), flatulence (gas), nausea (feeling sick), abdominal discomfort, vomiting and raised blood levels of liver enzymes.[1]
Fenofibrate is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist.[1] It activates a type of receptor called the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, which is involved in breaking down fat from the diet, especially triglycerides.[1] When the receptors are activated, the breakdown of fats is accelerated, and this helps clear the blood of cholesterol and triglycerides.[1]
Pravastatin belongs to the group called statins.[1] It reduces total blood cholesterol by blocking the action of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA) reductase, an enzyme in the liver involved in the production of cholesterol.[1] As the liver needs cholesterol to produce bile, the reduced blood cholesterol level causes the liver cells to produce receptors that draw cholesterol from the blood, reducing its level even further.[1] The cholesterol drawn out of the blood in this way is the LDL cholesterol.[1]
Medical uses
Fenofibrate/pravastatin is indicated for the treatment of high-coronary-heart-disease (CHD)-risk adults with mixed dyslipidaemia characterised by high triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol (C) levels whose LDL-C levels are adequately controlled while on a treatment with pravastatin 40 mg monotherapy.[1]
History
Fenofibrate/pravastatin was approved for use in the European Union in April 2011.[1]
References
- "Pravafenix EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). Retrieved 25 April 2020.
Further reading
- Farnier M (May 2012). "Pravastatin and fenofibrate in combination (Pravafenix) for the treatment of high-risk patients with mixed hyperlipidemia". Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 10 (5): 565–75. doi:10.1586/erc.12.37. PMID 22651832.
- Hernández Mijares A (July 2014). "[Combination of pravastatin and fenofibrate (Pravafenix ®). Safety studies]". Clin Investig Arterioscler (in Spanish; Castilian). 26 Suppl 1: 25–30. doi:10.1016/S0214-9168(14)70023-3. PMID 25043544.CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
External links
- "Fenofibrate". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- "Pravastatin". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.