Pitavastatin

Key facts

• Pitavastatin (brand name Livalo) is a statin that lowers LDL, or "bad," cholesterol by slowing cholesterol production in the liver.
• It's taken once daily, at any time of day, with or without food.
• Its main safety risk is muscle injury (myopathy), which can rarely progress to rhabdomyolysis, a serious breakdown of muscle tissue that can damage the kidneys. Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness needs prompt medical review.
• Seek urgent care for severe muscle pain with dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.

What pitavastatin treats

Pitavastatin treats high LDL cholesterol and mixed dyslipidaemia, and it's used to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with, or at risk of, cardiovascular disease. It works alongside diet and exercise; it is not a substitute for lifestyle changes.

How pitavastatin works

Pitavastatin blocks HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme the liver uses to make cholesterol. With less cholesterol produced, the liver pulls more LDL out of the bloodstream, reducing the amount that can build up as plaque in artery walls.

Before you take it

• Do not take pitavastatin if you're pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Statins can harm fetal development.
• Tell your doctor about active liver disease or a history of statin-related muscle problems.
• Baseline liver-function tests are usually done before starting, and your doctor may recheck them if you develop symptoms of liver trouble.
• Avoid combining it with gemfibrozil, which significantly raises pitavastatin levels and muscle-injury risk.

Side effects

Common effects include mild muscle aches, headache, and digestive upset.

Seek urgent medical care for:

• Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially with fever or dark, cola-coloured urine, which can signal rhabdomyolysis.
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or persistent abdominal pain, which can signal liver injury.
• Signs of an allergic reaction: swelling, rash, difficulty breathing.

Safety essentials

• Report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness right away. It can signal myopathy that, left untreated, may progress to rhabdomyolysis and kidney damage.
• Liver function is checked before starting treatment; tell your doctor about symptoms such as persistent nausea, fatigue, or yellowing skin.
• Avoid pregnancy while taking pitavastatin, and don't combine it with gemfibrozil.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.