Livalo (pitavastatin) to Lower High Cholesterol
Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD
Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
- What is Livalo (pitavastatin)?
- How is Livalo (pitavastatin) prescribed?
- With which drugs does Livalo (pitavastatin) interact?
- What about taking Livalo (pitavastatin) during pregnancy?
- What are the side effects of Livalo (pitavastatin)?
What is Livalo (pitavastatin)?
Livalo (pitavastatin) is a cholesterol-lowering drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration in August 2009. Livalo is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor or "statin."
Other statins include:
- Zocor (simvastatin),
- Pravachol (pravastatin),
- Mevacor (lovastatin),
- Lipitor (atorvastatin), and
- Crestor (rosuvastatin).
Statins reduce cholesterol by reducing the activity of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme in the liver that is necessary for the production of cholesterol.
In one study Livalo (pitavastatin), 4 mg daily:
- reduced total cholesterol by 32%
- reduced LDL ("bad") cholesterol by 45%,
- reduced triglycerides by 19%,
- reduced apolipoprotein B by 35%, and
- raised HDL ("good") cholesterol by 5%.
The 4 mg dose of Livalo (pitavastatin) is comparable to 20 mg of atorvastatin in reducing cholesterol. However, Livalo increases HDL more than Lipitor (atorvastatin). The 2 mg and 4 mg doses of Livalo are comparable to 20 mg and 40 mg doses of Zocor (simvastatin), respectively.
Reference: Livalo (pitavastatin) Prescribing Information, 2009
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