pitavastatin

What is the most important information I should know about pitavastatin?

Do not take pitavastatin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

What is pitavastatin?

Pitavastatin is used together with diet to lower blood levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL), to increase levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL), and to lower triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood).

Pitavastatin is used to treat high cholesterol in adults. Lowering your cholesterol may help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries, conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.

The Livalo brand of pitavastatin is also used to treat an inherited form of high cholesterol in children at least 8 years old.

Pitavastatin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking pitavastatin?

• liver disease (including abnormal liver enzyme tests);
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; or
• if you are taking cyclosporine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• a thyroid disorder; or
• if you drink large amounts of alcohol.

Pitavastatin can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure. This happens more often in older adults or people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.

How should I take pitavastatin?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

You may take pitavastatin with or without food, but take it at the same time each day.

You will need frequent blood tests.

• uncontrolled seizures;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as high or low potassium levels in your blood);
• severely low blood pressure;
• a severe infection or illness;
• dehydration; or
• surgery or a medical emergency.

Pitavastatin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking pitavastatin?

Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol, or pitavastatin will not be as effective.

What are the possible side effects of pitavastatin?

• confusion, memory problems;
• muscle weakness in your hips, shoulders, neck, and back;
• trouble lifting your arms, trouble climbing or standing;
• kidney problems --vomiting, pain in your side or lower back, little or no urinating, swelling, rapid weight gain; or
• liver problems --loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects may include:

• muscle pain;
• pain in your arms or legs;
• back pain; or
• diarrhea, constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect pitavastatin?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use. Like pitavastatin, certain other drugs can increase your risk of serious muscle problems, especially:

• colchicine;
• gemfibrozil;
• fenofibric acid;
• fenofibrate; or
• medicines that contain niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect pitavastatin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about pitavastatin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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