Before diving into Livalo side effects, dosage & uses, let’s know what exactly Livalo is:
What is Livalo used for?
Livalo belongs to the statin drug class, which lowers blood cholesterol. Pitavastatin is the chemical name. It inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme that catalyzes the initial phase of cholesterol production like other statins do.
It is taken in conjunction with a healthy diet to help boost “good” cholesterol (HDL) and lower “bad” cholesterol and fats (such as LDL and triglycerides) in the blood.
Raising “good” cholesterol while lowering “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides reduces the risk of heart disease and aids in the prevention of strokes and heart attacks.
Exercise, weight loss if overweight, and quitting smoking are some lifestyle changes that may help this drug work better, in addition to eating a healthy diet (such as a low-cholesterol/low-fat diet).
Some related warnings:
If you have liver illness, take cyclosporine, have severely abnormal liver enzyme testing, or both, you shouldn’t take Livalo.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid using Livalo.
To make sure Livalo is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- Kidney disease;
- Liver disease;
- A thyroid disorder; or
- If you drink large amounts of alcohol.
Without consulting a doctor, never administer this medication to a youngster or he may suffer some Livalo side effects.
How should I take Livalo?
Exactly as directed by your doctor, take Livalo. Observe every instruction on the prescription drug label.
You may need to stop using Livalo for a short time if you have:
- 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.
Livalo Dosage :
Initial dose: 2 mg orally once a day to be taken with/without food and can be increased to 4 mg once a day to be taken with/without food to avoid any Livalo side effects.
What to avoid?
Eat less food that is high in cholesterol or fat. If you don’t adhere to a cholesterol-reducing food plan, Livalo won’t work as well at lowering your cholesterol.
Alcohol consumption may increase your risk of liver damage and boost triglyceride levels.
Livalo Uses:
This medicine is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat particular illnesses.
Livalo for high cholesterol
When used with a low-cholesterol diet, it is FDA-approved to treat some types of high cholesterol.
Specifically, Livalo is used to treat:
- Primary hyperlipidemia in adults.
- Mixed dyslipidemia in adults.
- Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
Livalo Cost:
The price of Livalo can differ, just like it can with any drug. The cost of 2-mg pills is often the same as the cost of Livalo in other strengths. However, your insurance plan, where you live, and the drugstore you visit will all affect the final cost you incur. The cost can range from $550-760 for a 30-day supply.
Remember that a 90-day supply of Livalo might be available. Obtaining a 90-day supply of the medication may help you make fewer trips to the pharmacy and save money if your insurance provider approves it. You can find huge discount offers on LifeRxPharmacy.
Consult your physician, pharmacist, or insurance provider if this is a choice that interests you and also to know about Livalo side effects. While there is general pricing of the medicine, there are some Livalo coupons provided by E-pharmacies for a better discount ability.
Livalo Side Effects:
Livalo side effects might range from minor to severe. Some of the most significant side effects that could happen when using Livalo are listed below.
Mild Livalo side effects can include :
- Back pain,
- Constipation,
- Diarrhea,
- Pain in your arms or legs, and mild muscle pain.
The majority of these adverse effects may disappear in a few days or weeks. However, consult your doctor or pharmacist if these Livalo side effects worsen or persist.
Serious Livalo side effects can include:
- Soreness in the muscles,
- Liver issues,
- Elevated blood sugar levels, and
- Allergic responses.
Livalo Side Effects in children:
Livalo has been given the go-ahead to treat a specific type of elevated cholesterol in children 8 years of age and older. Livalo side effects in children are anticipated to be similar to those in adults.
Muscle Damage and Pain:
Livalo can, in rare circumstances, injure muscles, which can result in more significant issues. This encompasses issues like:
- Rhabdomyolysis: Muscle cells die during rhabdomyolysis and spill their contents into circulation. These chemicals may result in renal failure. If rhabdomyolysis is not treated, it can be fatal.
- Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy (IMNM): Your immune system targets and destroys your muscle cells when you have IMNM. Symptoms of IMNM include falling, muscle weakness, and difficulty moving your arms or legs.
Liver Problems:
Rarely, the medication Livalo may result in elevated liver enzyme values (types of proteins). This can indicate severe liver issues, one of the severe Livalo side effects.
Dark urine, fever, jaundice, nausea and vomiting, and pale stool are a few examples. Your doctor might suggest that you undergo liver function testing before using Livalo. Your doctor will be able to determine whether your liver is operating normally thanks to the results of these tests.
Increased Blood Sugar Level:
Livalo sometimes may elevate blood sugar levels. Increased thirst and frequent urination are two signs of elevated blood sugar and Livalo side effects.
Your chance of developing diabetes can increase if you consistently have high blood sugar levels.
However, leading a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing this ailment.
Allergic Reaction:
An allergic reaction that is more severe but still possible can cause skin rashes, itching, and flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color).
Swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet, swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, and breathing difficulties are all signs of a severe allergic reaction and Livalo side effects.
Livalo and Memory Loss:
There have been reports of Livalo side effects and cognitive impairment caused by statin use.
These side effects include memory loss, forgetfulness, amnesia, memory impairment, and disorientation.
These complaints are typically unimportant and curable by stopping the medicine.
Livalo and Alcohol:
Alcohol and Livalo don’t seem to interact in any way.
But Livalo and alcohol can both harm the liver. Livalo users who have abused alcohol may be more susceptible to liver issues and other Livalo side effects.
Livalo Interactions:
Livalo and several other drugs may interact. It may also interfere with specific meals and supplements.
Different interactions can lead to various outcomes. For instance, certain interactions may impair a drug’s effectiveness.
Other interactions may intensify or multiply Livalo side effects.
Livalo and Other Medications:
The list of drugs that may interact with Livalo is provided below. Not all medications that might interact with Livalo are included in this list.
Livalo may increase your risk for muscle damage and pain as Livalo side effects when combined with specific medications.
Due to this interaction, doctors typically will not prescribe Livalo with the following drugs:
- Treatment for autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis is cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune).
- Gemfibrozil (Lopid) is a medication for high cholesterol.
In addition to Livalo, the following medications may raise your risk of muscular soreness and damage:
- The antibiotic erythromycin (E.E.S., EryTab), is used to treat infections.
- Rifampin, which is used to treat tuberculosis (Rifadin, Rimactane).
- Fenofibrate, a medication for high cholesterol, is found in Antara, Lipofen, and Tricor.
- Niacin, which lowers cholesterol is found in the drug. Colchicine is used to treat gout (Colcrys, Mitigare).
Livalo vs Other Statins: How is Livalo different?
Compared to some of the other statins, Livalo results in fewer Livalo side effects and a greater rise in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Long-term maintenance of this elevation in HDL-C levels is achieved.
As it gathers any extra cholesterol and transports it back to the liver, where it is metabolized and ultimately eliminated from the body, HDL cholesterol is frequently referred to as the “good” cholesterol. Your risk of heart disease and stroke can be decreased by raising your HDL cholesterol levels.
Livalo lowers triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and total cholesterol (TC) to a level comparable to those of the two most effective statin medications, simvastatin, and atorvastatin.
Patients who have not responded well to other statins and require medication with less muscle pain as a side effect may do better with Livalo (Pitavastatin). Pitavastatin, the active ingredient in Livalo, also has fewer drug interactions than other statins, making it a better option for people who take multiple medications.
What can I take in place of Livalo?
Livalo alternatives may be able to improve cholesterol results while avoiding the cost and Livalo side effects. There are more powerful, generic statins than Livalo which are also less expensive.
Other alternatives to Livalo:
- Lovaza (omega-3-acid esters)
- Vascepa (icosapent ethyl)
- Nexletol (bempedoic acid)
- Juxtapid (lomitapide)
- Niaspan (niacin ER)
Top 5 Livalo Alternatives:
The following are some of the most common alternatives to Livalo:
1. Crestor
Crestor and Livalo have similar mechanisms of action because they are both statins. They share a list of common side effects with other statins like Myalgia (muscle pain), Constipation or diarrhea, and elevated liver and muscle enzymes.
In comparison with Livalo vs Crestor, Livalo probably carries a lesser risk of muscle pain, one of the common Livalo side effects. Crestor, though, has greater strength. Crestor is the most effective statin, able to reduce LDL levels by more than 50%.
If Livalo is not successful in lowering your cholesterol levels to the targets your doctor has set, this offers you a respectable substitute. In comparison to either of the brand-name versions of Pitavastatin, Livalo, or Zypitamag, you might be able to save some money by using the generic version of Crestor.
2. Lipitor
Another high-intensity statin is Lipitor, which provides larger LDL reductions than Livalo. It is less expensive than Crestor, has a larger list of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indications than Livalo, and is also available in a generic form.
If your cholesterol profile contains high levels of both LDL and triglycerides, Lipitor and Crestor may be superior choices than Livalo. Lipitor and Crestor are the best statins for reducing triglycerides. The fibrate medicine class, which includes Tricor and Lopid, may also be taken into consideration if high triglyceride levels are your main issue.
Livalo vs Lipitor:
Another high-intensity statin is Lipitor, To raise “good” cholesterol (HDL) and lower “bad” cholesterol and fats (such as LDL and triglycerides) in the blood, Lipitor (atorvastatin) is used in conjunction with a healthy diet. It is a member of the class of medications known as “statins.”
It functions by reducing the quantity of cholesterol the liver produces. Raising “good” cholesterol while lowering “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides reduces the risk of heart disease and aids in the prevention of strokes and heart attacks. Lipitor provides larger LDL reductions than Livalo.
It is less expensive than Crestor, has a larger list of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indications than Livalo, and is also available in a generic form.
Bear in mind that not everyone should take Lipitor and have a look at Livalo side effects. If you consume a lot of grapefruit juice, it might even be problematic and increase your risk of muscle pain and drug interactions
3. Pravachol
You are given the choice of a statin that is still effective but less strong. If you are using cholesterol medication as a primary prevention strategy—that is, if you have not been diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition but are attempting to prevent this kind of problem—then this might be intriguing to you.
If Livalo is causing Livalo side effects on you and you don’t need a significant decrease in LDL to reach your set goals, Pravachol can be the perfect choice for you. Another argument for switching from the brand-name drug Livalo is the cheaper cost of generic Pravachol, which is pravastatin.
4. Zetia
Zetia may be a viable option if Livalo and other statins do not work for you. When compared to Livalo, generic Zetia, also known as ezetimibe, may be less expensive. Additionally, Zetia’s mode of action is distinct because it blocks the absorption of cholesterol. This can imply that you can prevent the negative effects of Livalo.
In a different scenario, adding Zetia would give you a complimentary cholesterol medication to help you get the results you need if Livalo by itself isn’t quite enough to lower your LDL to your goal.
5. Repatha
Repatha is costly and unlikely to be more cost-effective than Livalo, but you shouldn’t rule it out as a statin supplement or replacement Repatha might supplement Livalo therapy to help lower LDL levels, or it might serve as an alternative if statins aren’t working for you.
Natural alternatives to Livalo:
Changes to your diet may be a viable alternative to Livalo and prevent Livalo side effects if your health is good and your cholesterol reduction goals are modest. Because it is widely believed that natural, herbal, and vitamin supplements are safer than prescription medications, they are usually of interest.
Fortunately, there is excellent news regarding cholesterol management in this aspect. Fish oil and prescription medications like Lovaza and Vascepa, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, can help lower triglycerides but not normal LDL levels. On the other hand, red yeast rice can reduce LDL through a mechanism similar to statins.
FAQs:
Is there a generic for Livalo?
Yes, generic Livalo is available online on LifeRx Pharmacy. There are other additional generic statins, though, including atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and fluvastatin.
Why is Livalo so expensive?
Manufacturing medications, especially complex drugs like Livalo, involves precise processes and quality control measures, which can be expensive. Moreover, with fewer government regulations over the pricing, the manufacturers do not put any bars on the pricing, hence raising the prices.
Is Livalo not covered by insurance?
Some insurance plans may require prior authorization before covering certain medications, including Livalo. This process typically involves the healthcare provider submitting additional information to the insurance company to demonstrate the medical necessity of the medication. Moreover, most insurance and Medicare programs do not cover Livalo. Check other statins.
Does Livalo cause hair loss?
Hair loss is not commonly listed as a side effect of Livalo (Pitavastatin) in the official prescribing information or clinical studies. However, it’s important to note that individual responses to medications can vary, and some people may experience uncommon or rare side effects that are not listed in the official documentation.
How much does Livalo cost?
Depending on the drugstore you go to, a supply of 90 Livalo oral pills 1 mg costs about $1,020. Hence, you can find great discount coupons and offers on LifeRx Pharmacy online and it can help you save a lot.
Why is Livalo not covered by insurance?
Insurance companies that do cover Livalo can need prior clearance before approving a claim. Livalo is categorized by insurance companies as a Tier 3 medicine (Tier 3 medicine. Furthermore, Livalo is a brand-name medication, and brand-name drugs tend to be more expensive than generic alternatives. Insurance companies may preferentially cover generic statins, which are typically more cost-effective options for lowering cholesterol levels.
Is Livalo a statin drug?
Yes, Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that work by preventing the liver from producing “bad” cholesterol (known as LDL). By lowering LDL cholesterol, statins can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, statins can boost “good” cholesterol (called HDL).
What does Livalo treat?
Pitavastatin, sold under the brand name Livalo, is taken in conjunction with diet, exercise, and weight loss to lower elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood. Livalo is also used to treat mixed dyslipidemia, which involves abnormal levels of different types of lipids in the blood, including elevated LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and decreased HDL cholesterol.
When does Livalo’s patent expire?
Livalo’s patent expiring date was 19th February 2024. After a medication’s patent expires, other pharmaceutical companies may be able to produce generic versions of the drug.
Does Livalo cause weight gain?
Yes, this is one of the Livalo side effects. However, it’s important to note that individual responses to medications can vary, and some people may experience weight changes while taking Livalo.
