Pitavastatin
About Pitavastatin
Pitavastatin is an oral prescription medication used to lower high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. By reducing 'bad' cholesterol and fats while raising 'good' cholesterol, it helps decrease the risk of serious cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. It is prescribed alongside a personalised health plan to help manage your long-term cardiovascular health.
For the best results, you should take Pitavastatin consistently once every day, exactly as directed by your doctor. You can take this tablet with or without food, and taking it at the same time each day helps build a regular routine. To maximise its effectiveness, it is essential to combine this medicine with a heart-healthy diet, regular physical activity, and weight management.
While Pitavastatin is generally well-tolerated, some people may experience mild side effects such as muscle pain, back pain, or diarrhoea. Most of these mild symptoms improve as your body adjusts to the medication. However, if you experience severe, unexplained muscle weakness, dark-coloured urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes, you should contact your doctor right away.
Before starting this medication, tell your doctor if you have a history of liver disease, kidney problems, or thyroid disorders. Do not take this if you have active liver disease or unexplained elevations in liver enzymes. Additionally, pregnant women, those planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding mothers must not take Pitavastatin due to potential risks to the developing baby.
This medicine can interact with other substances, such as certain immunosuppressants or other cholesterol drugs, which can increase the risk of serious muscle damage. Restricting your alcohol intake is also highly recommended, as drinking alcohol while taking this medication can increase your risk of liver damage. Elderly individuals should discuss their full medical history with their doctor, as they may be more sensitive to certain side effects.
Uses of Pitavastatin
Medicinal Benefits
Pitavastatin helps lower high cholesterol levels and supports long-term cardiovascular health. By improving blood lipid levels, it helps protect the heart and blood vessels while reducing the risk of cholesterol-related complications.
- Helps Manage Cholesterol Levels: By lowering elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and improving overall lipid levels, Pitavastatin helps support healthy blood circulation and cardiovascular function.
- Supports Long-Term Heart and Blood Vessel Health: Regular use of Pitavastatin helps reduce the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular complications.
- Offers Convenient Once-Daily Treatment: Pitavastatin can be taken once daily, with or without food, making it easy to incorporate into your daily routine and supporting consistent treatment for long-term cholesterol management.
Directions for Use
- Pitavastatin can be taken with or without food as advised by your doctor.
- It is usually taken once a day or as directed by the doctor.
- Swallow Pitavastatin as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not chew, crush, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Pitavastatin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Muscle aches or mild muscle pain
- Pain in the back, arms, or legs
- Diarrhoea, constipation, or upset stomach
- Mild headache
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Severe, unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (especially when accompanied by a fever or unusual tiredness)
- Signs of liver damage, such as yellowing of your eyes or skin, dark-colored urine, severe stomach pain, or persistent nausea
- Signs of an allergic reaction, such as skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, and difficulty breathing
- Unusual fatigue or weakness
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Monitor for muscle symptoms: Pay close attention to any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. This is crucial because, in rare cases, statins can cause a serious condition involving muscle breakdown.
- Get routine blood tests: Your doctor may request regular blood tests to check your liver function and monitor your cholesterol levels while you are taking Pitavastatin.
- Consult about grapefruit: While some cholesterol medications interact heavily with grapefruit, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether you need to limit grapefruit juice with this specific medicine.
- Inform all healthcare providers: Let any doctor, dentist, or pharmacist you visit know that you are taking Pitavastatin, especially if you are prescribed new medications or are scheduled for surgery.
Drug Interactions
- Cyclosporine: Do not take Pitavastatin if you are taking cyclosporine, as this combination significantly increases the level of the medication in your body, raising the risk of severe muscle damage.
- Erythromycin or Rifampin: These antibiotics can alter how your body processes Pitavastatin, potentially increasing the risk of side effects.
- Other lipid-lowering drugs (like gemfibrozil or niacin): Combining these with Pitavastatin can increase your risk of severe muscle pain and weakness.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol with Pitavastatin as it may increase the risk of liver damage. Please consult a doctor before consuming alcohol with Pitavastatin.
Pregnancy
unsafePitavastatin is a Category X pregnancy drug and is considered unsafe for pregnant women as it may cause harm to the unborn baby. If you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, please inform your doctor before taking Pitavastatin.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAvoid breastfeeding while taking Pitavastatin as it may be unsafe for the baby. However, please consult a doctor before taking Pitavastatin.
Driving
safe if prescribedPitavastatin usually does not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionTake Pitavastatin with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required. Pitavastatin is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.
Kidney
cautionTake Pitavastatin with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
cautionPitavastatin is not recommended for children below 8 years of age. However, Pitavastatin should be used with caution in children above 8 years if prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat a heart-healthy diet: Focus on reducing saturated fats and trans fats, which are found in red meat and full-fat dairy products. Increase your intake of soluble fibre, found in oats, beans, lentils, and fruits, as fibre helps block cholesterol absorption in your digestive system.
- Stay physically active: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise, like brisk walking or cycling, each week to help raise your 'good' cholesterol.
- Limit alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol can increase triglyceride levels and put extra strain on your liver, increasing the risk of liver damage when combined with Pitavastatin.
- Quit smoking: Stopping smoking improves your 'good' cholesterol levels and greatly reduces your overall risk of cardiovascular disease.
Special Advise
- Regular blood tests are recommended while taking Pitavastatin to monitor cholesterol levels in the blood and liver functioning.
- Maintain a low-fat diet along with Pitavastatin for effective results.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hyperlipidemia: Also, dyslipidemia occurs when there is an unhealthy balance of cholesterol in the blood. When there is a high cholesterol level in the blood, your arteries get narrowed and clogged, contributing to heart diseases, like stroke and heart attack. Eating high-fat or high-cholesterol-containing food/drinks and genetic factors are the primary causes of high cholesterol. There are two types of cholesterol found in our bodies: good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) and bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein). Good cholesterol is good for our heart and helps in reducing the bad cholesterol in our body. On the other hand, excess bad cholesterol (LDL) leads to the risk of heart diseases like heart attack and stroke.
FAQs
Pitavastatin is used to reduce bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Thereby, it reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke in future.
Pitavastatin contains Pitavastatin that works by inhibiting the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme in the body, which is essential to make cholesterol. Thereby, it decreases the production of LDL (bad cholesterol) by the liver. Also, Pitavastatin reduces the risk of stroke or heart attack by reducing cholesterol deposition in the brain and the heart's major blood vessels.
You are not recommended to take Pitavastatin with atorvastatin as it may increase the risk of nerve damage. However, please consult a doctor before taking Pitavastatin with any other medicines.
Yes, Pitavastatin may cause rhabdomyolysis (the breakdown of muscle tissue) and may lead to kidney failure, especially in patients with kidney disease and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). It is not necessary for everyone taking Pitavastatin to experience this adverse effect. However, if you experience unexplained muscle pain, weakness or tenderness, especially with fever, dark coloured urine or unusual tiredness, please consult your doctor immediately.
Pitavastatin should be used with caution in diabetic patients as it may increase blood sugar levels. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended in diabetic patients, and inform your doctor before taking Pitavastatin if you are diabetic.
You are recommended to avoid eating foods rich in fat or cholesterol and caffeine, as they may increase side effects.
No, you are not recommended to stop taking Pitavastatin without consulting your doctor, as it may worsen the condition and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Therefore, take Pitavastatin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it, and if you experience any difficulty while taking Pitavastatin, please consult your doctor so that the dose may be gradually reduced.
Pitavastatin may cause side effects such as muscle pain, back pain, diarrhoea, constipation and pain in arms or legs. If these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
No, you should not take Pitavastatin if you have active liver disease and elevated liver enzymes, as Pitavastatin may further worsen your liver condition.
Yes, Pitavastatin is safe if used as per the dose and duration advised by the doctor. Follow your doctor’s instructions. Some people may experience a few side effects after taking Pitavastatin.
You should take Pitavastatin for as long as it is advised by your doctor. You might need to take it lifelong, as cholesterol levels will be maintained only while you are taking Pitavastatin. If you stop Pitavastatin without starting other treatment, your cholesterol levels may increase again. Therefore, do not stop taking it without first consulting your doctor.
No, Pitavastatin does not cause hair loss. If you experience hair loss, then it may be due to some other medication that you are taking or due to some other condition. If you have any concerns, please discuss with your doctor.
Pitavastatin may cause tiredness in some people. Not everyone taking Pitavastatin will experience tiredness. Additionally, Pitavastatin may cause muscle damage, which further worsens the tiredness. Therefore, if you feel tired while taking Pitavastatin, consult your doctor.
No, do not take alcohol with Pitavastatin as it may increase the risk of liver damage. However, if you have any concerns regarding this, please discuss with your doctor.
Unlike some older cholesterol medications, Pitavastatin can be taken at any time of day, either in the morning or evening. The most important thing is to take it at the same time every day. Talk to your doctor to find the best routine for you.
If you develop unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or feel unusually tired, contact your doctor right away. This can be a sign of a rare but serious muscle condition. Talk to your doctor before stopping the medicine.
No, pregnant women must not take Pitavastatin. It can cause harm to an unborn baby. If you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking this medication, stop taking it and contact your doctor immediately.
Pitavastatin begins to lower your cholesterol levels within 1 to 2 weeks, with the full effect usually visible after 4 weeks. Your doctor will likely perform blood tests at this time to check how well the medicine is working. Talk to your doctor for more details.
Pitavastatin does not interact with grapefruit in the same way some other statins do. However, it is always safest to discuss your diet and any potential dietary restrictions with your doctor or pharmacist.
Some statin medications can cause a slight increase in blood sugar levels. However, the benefit of protecting your heart and blood vessels usually far outweighs this small risk. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns, especially if you have pre-diabetes or diabetes.
If you stop taking Pitavastatin, your cholesterol levels will likely rise back to their previous levels, increasing your risk of heart problems. Do not stop taking this medication unless your doctor explicitly instructs you to do so. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about side effects.
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