What You Need To Know About Livalo (Pitavastatin) for Cholesterol

What Is Pitavastatin?

Pitavastatin is the generic name for Livalo. Livalo is commonly prescribed as a treatment for high cholesterol. It is in the statin drug class, which can help lower cholesterol when paired with a heart-healthy diet. Let’s take a closer look at how statins like Livalo work.

Common Brand Names

The generic pitavastatin can be commonly found under the brand name Livalo.

How It Works

Pitavastatin, or Livalo, works like all statins. It blocks an enzyme in the liver that synthesizes cholesterol. This increases the uptake of LDL (“bad” cholesterol) from the blood back into the liver, reducing total cholesterol levels in the body. By lowering total cholesterol and the production of LDL, individuals may lower their risk for heart disease and other conditions linked to high cholesterol. Livalo is also used to lower LDL in patients aged 8 and older who have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Is Livalo a Statin?

Yes, Livalo is a statin medication. It is the brand name of the generic pitavastatin, which blocks an enzyme that is responsible for cholesterol synthesis in the body.

Is This Prescription Effective for Lowering Cholesterol?

Studies indicate that Livalo can be a very effective cholesterol-lowering medication. In clinical trials, Livalo reduced LDL cholesterol by up to 45% at the 4-mg dose. Overall, Livalo is effective in reducing LDL and triglycerides while increasing HDL (“good” cholesterol). Livalo will be more effective when combined with a heart-healthy diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes as recommended by your doctor. A unique aspect of Livalo is its reduced likelihood of interacting with other medications. This is why Livalo may be recommended for someone who is taking medications for other conditions. Since it is broken down in a less crowded pathway in the body, it may be a good option for those who have had interactions when taking other statins. Additionally, Livalo was compared to Lipitor in a 12-week clinical study with individuals who have both high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Lipitor was found to increase fasting blood sugar levels in week 12 while Livalo did not.

Understanding Your Dosage

Your dosage for Livalo can vary based on factors like cholesterol levels, age, other medications, medical history and more. You will need to work with your doctor to determine the right dosage for you. The recommended starting dose for Livalo is 2 mg with a maximum dosage of 4 mg. As you begin your new medication, keep your doctor updated with any side effects or changes you experience. They will monitor your progress and make adjustments to your dosage or medication if necessary.

What Are the Side Effects?

As with any medication, there are potential side effects to be aware of when you take Livalo. It’s a good idea to keep these side effects in mind, so you can report them to your health care provider if you experience any of them. It’s also good to remember that side effects are typically dose-dependent. While you may feel fine on a lower dose, you could experience side effects if your dosage increases. Here are some of the most common side effects people experience when taking Livalo:

• Back pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Muscle pain
• Pain in the legs or arms

These are all reversible by stopping the drug. In rarer cases, Livalo side effects may include:

• Damage to liver
• Fever
• Muscle problems
• Damage to kidneys
• Allergic reactions

Natural Alternatives

Statins like Livalo aren’t a good option for everyone. Although Livalo has fewer drug interactions than some other statins, it still shouldn’t be taken if you’re on cyclosporine, if you have liver problems or if you’re allergic to the ingredients. Fortunately, managing cholesterol through natural alternatives is possible for many people. It’s important to discuss natural alternatives with your health care provider to ensure you’re following the right guidelines for your current health and medical history. While statin medications are usually prescribed if someone already has known heart disease or very high cholesterol, natural treatments will typically be the first path doctors recommend in most other individuals. These treatments involve adopting a heart-healthy diet and exercising regularly. Through diet and exercise, many individuals may be able to lower cholesterol without the use of medication. One great way to supplement your heart-healthy diet is with Step One Foods, which are specifically designed to help lower your cholesterol.

Step One Foods

Step One Foods works by combining real, whole food ingredients into various snacks and meals to deliver the four top nutrients that have been clinically proven to lower cholesterol and improve heart health. Each Step One Foods snack and meal contains whole food fiber, plant sterols, Omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants - from ingredients like almonds and apples, dark chocolate and cranberries. Who says that helping your cholesterol levels through food can’t be tasty?

Science-backed food as medicine

Even if you’re taking a cholesterol-lowering medication, doctors will recommend a heart-healthy diet to help lower cholesterol even further. When you supplement your medication with heart-healthy foods like Step One Foods snacks and meals, you can help your medications work better. This means your doctor may be able to lower your dosage as you see better results. Step One Foods doesn’t just taste great — it’s clinically proven to help with your cholesterol levels. Step One Foods snacks and meals have been evaluated in a controlled clinical trial conducted at Mayo Clinic and the University of Manitoba. This trial found that Step One Foods lowered the LDL cholesterol of subjects by 9% on average, in 30 days. Many individuals saw even more significant results, experiencing LDL reductions of 20, 30 or even close to 40%. Additionally, 80% of participants experienced positive outcomes and 95% enjoyed eating the snacks and meals.

Just as easy as taking a pill, but WAY tastier.

Sticking to a heart-healthy diet isn’t always easy, but Step One Foods helps make it much easier. Just enjoy two delicious snacks a day for 30 days and see if your LDL levels have decreased at your next blood test. Taking a pill is easy, but Step One Foods is just as easy and it tastes great!