What’s the difference between “pravastatin” and “pravastatin sodium”?
“Pravastatin” usually refers to the active drug (pravastatin). “Pravastatin sodium” is the same medication expressed as a salt form. In practice, most marketed products use pravastatin sodium because it’s more stable/easier to formulate, but it still delivers the same active compound once in the body.
Are they the same strength on the prescription (e.g., 20 mg vs 20 mg)?
Doses are typically written on the label as “pravastatin sodium” with a stated milligram amount (for example, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg). Clinicians and pharmacists use the labeled strength for dosing. If you’re switching products, check the exact label dose and instructions rather than assuming a different milligram amount.
Why does the “sodium” wording show up on some labels?
The word “sodium” indicates the chemical salt form used in that specific formulation. This wording can appear differently across:
- generic vs brand labeling,
- manufacturers,
- tablets vs other dosage forms,
but it generally does not mean a different drug effect.
Can patients be harmed by switching between labels that say “pravastatin” vs “pravastatin sodium”?
Switching between products that are both the same active drug and strength (same mg dose) is usually considered interchangeable under standard pharmacy/generic substitution rules. The bigger risks come from mix-ups that change the dose (for example, 10 mg vs 20 mg) or switching to a different statin instead of switching formulations.
What should you do if you’re comparing two bottles?
To confirm they match, compare:
- the active ingredient: both should say pravastatin (often as pravastatin sodium),
- the strength: same mg on the label,
- the dosing directions: once daily vs other schedules.
If you share the exact label text (including the strength and directions) from both products, I can help you verify whether they are truly equivalent.