Pitavastatin : All You Need to Know

As you age, it becomes necessary to do a routine body check-up, especially to check your cholesterol levels regularly. As you get older, these levels are bound to shoot up. Increased levels of cholesterol, impact your overall well-being. It can lead to several health problems like stroke, heart attacks, or any cardiovascular disease. 

Why is it important to check cholesterol?

Cholesterol in itself is not harmful. Our body produces it (biosynthesis) and requires it for smooth functioning. Cholesterol is also present in the foods we eat. Excess of cholesterol in your body causes accumulation, and, that could lead to complete or partial blockage of the arteries.  Elevated cholesterol is also called hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia. Cholesterol has two main components. HDL (High-Density Lipoproteins) and LDL (Low-Density Lipoproteins).  HDL is considered to be the ‘good cholesterol because it helps to get rid of the excess cholesterol in the body. LDL is known as the ‘bad cholesterol, as it carries the cholesterol to the blood vessels, where it might get accumulated and block the arteries. It is vital to lower the LDL and increase the HDL. 

The levels of HDL (High-Density Lipoproteins) should be

Over 60 mg/dL (optimal levels) 

40 to 60 mg/dL (good levels) 

Below 40 mg/dL (low levels) 

The levels of LDL (Low-density Lipoproteins) should be

Under 100 mg/dL (optimal levels) 

100 to 129 mg/dL (borderline high levels) 

130 to 159 mg/dL (mildly high) 

160 to 189 mg/dL (high) 

190 mg/dL or above (very high) 

There are several ways to combat the increased levels of cholesterol. Diet plans, lifestyle modifications, and some medicines like statins help control the levels of cholesterol. The goal is to keep the total cholesterol levels low. Statins are the popular way to keep total cholesterol levels in check. If the cholesterol levels are high, doctors may start the patients with a statin like Pitavastatin.  The key to lower the levels is to take the medicines, combined with diet and exercise plans. 

What is Pitavastatin? 

Pitavastatin belongs to a class of drugs called statins that lower the cholesterol in the blood. It is used along with a healthy diet and exercise to reduce bad cholesterol and increase the amount of good cholesterol in the blood.  It works by inhibiting the enzymes that produce the cholesterol and slows down its production in the liver. That helps to decrease the amount of cholesterol that accumulates on the walls of the arteries. It lowers bad cholesterol and helps to increase the good ones. Thus, improving the total levels of cholesterol in the blood.? That is how Pitavastatin helps to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. 

What is Pitavastatin given for? 

Pitavastatin is usually prescribed for the following conditions 

Hypercholesterolaemia (high levels of cholesterol) 

To lower LDL and increase HDL 

Metabolic syndrome 

High triglycerides 

Prevention of cardiovascular diseases 

Prevention of heart attack 

Prevention of stroke

How is Pitavastatin available? 

Pitavastatin is available in 1mg, 2mg, and 4mg tablets. It is sold under various brand names in the market. 

Popular brand names for Pitavastatin 

Pivasta (Zydus Cadila) 

Livalo (Bennet Pharmaceuticals) 

Pitadek (Devak Formulations) 

Pitavamed (Oldmed Healthcare) 

Pitmed (Mednich Pharmaceuticals) 

Diabastat (NYG Pharmaceuticals) 

Pitava (Zydus Cadila) 

Pitezo (Scope Pharma) 

Pevastin (Globus Labs) 

Livastat (Novazen Pharmaceuticals) 

How to take Pitavastatin? 

The dosage of Pitavastatin is standardized based on the age, medical condition, and medical history of the patient.  Take this medication once a day with or without food, as directed by your doctor.  If you also take certain other drugs like bile acid-binding resins such as Cholestyramine or Colestipol, take Pitavastatin at least 1 hour before or at least 4 hours after taking those medications, because components of these medicines can react with Pitavastatin and prevent its complete absorption.  You will see the benefits if you take it regularly, on time every day. Always take it as told by the doctor. It is to be taken with a low-fat diet and with regular exercise. It should be taken at a fixed time in the day. Set an alarm to remind you. If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. In case the next dose is up soon, skip the missed dose.

Precautions to be taken with Pitavastatin 

You tend to develop a relationship with the drug. The body and drug work in balance, but when you first start the treatment, it is only natural to experience a few side effects. These side effects tend to get better with time. It is, sometimes seen that drugs cause severe adverse reactions. So, it is crucial to discuss your medical history with your doctor. Some precautions to be taken, before starting with Pitavastatin treatment. Inform your doctor about the following before you take Pitavastatin 

If you have kidney disease 

If you have any liver disease 

If you have a thyroid disorder 

If you are diabetic, Pitavastatin may cause an increase in your blood sugar level. 

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding 

If you are consuming herbal drugs or vitamins of any kind 

All drugs have some adverse reactions. You may experience some common side effects, once you begin the treatment. 

Side effects of Pitavastatin 

Common side effects may include 

Stomach and Abdominal Pain. 

Nausea or Vomiting 

Constipation 

Diarrhoea 

Back pain 

Discuss your side effects with the doctor on your next visit.

Some rare but severe side effects as 

Low blood pressure 

The dark colour of urine and stool 

Rapid weight gain 

Confusion or temporary memory loss 

Severe dizziness, and trouble breathing. 

Pain or tenderness in the muscles 

Trouble moving your legs or arms 

Signs of kidney or liver problem 

Some allergic reactions may include a rash, itching, or swelling in some body parts. 

If you experience any extreme reactions to the drug, call your doctor immediately. The doctor can lower your dose, stop it or change the drug for you. 

How to know if Pitavastatin is the medicine for you? 

The doctors usually adopt the hit and trial method to see if a particular drug delivers the required results. The doctor may tweak the dose or change it to see if there is any other drug with better efficacy. But that is the old way, you can now stay current with advanced genetic testing. A revolutionary way to know the most effective treatment for you. Pharmacogenetic testing, is the new realm of precision medicine. Indus Health Plus has made it possible to get this pharmacogenetic testing to your doorstep. With their MEDNAwise genetic testing, it has become easy to diagnose and treat diseases. MEDNAwise is a pharmacogenetic testing product, which can predict your genetic response to 70+ drugs used in various medical specialties. Indus Health Plus also offers genetic testing that helps to reveal any disease you may acquire in the future. That is amazing, because then the doctors can treat the disease in its nascent stages, and with lifestyle modifications, you can even delay the onset of the disease.

MEDNAwise genetic testing facilitates better healthcare and health! 

Learn about your own genes and get personalized treatment and solutions. MEDNAwise is a simple saliva test and takes only a few minutes. You can do it yourself at home and send the samples for testing. The results which are delivered soon, tell you if Pitavastatin is the best-suited drug for you. A detailed report informs you of your genetic response to several other drugs across medical specialties

MEDNAwise also gives you peace of mind in the long run. You can already know which drugs are best suited for you, so the treatment is on the spot, and so the recovery is faster. A future medical emergency can be avoided too. You can be prepared in advance with treatment options and opt for lifestyle modifications. In short, you can delay the disease or induce a milder version of it. Sign up for the MEDNAwise genetic testing today, and get accurate, rapid, and effective treatment! 

Indus Health Plus also provides personal genetic counselling sessions after the results.  

MEDNwise is a personalized genetic test to improve life for everyone! Contact Indus Health Plus today!