Pitavastatin Drug: Indication, Dosage, Precaution, Side Effect , Storage, Category Type and corresponding Brands - www.genericdrugscan.com

Pitavastatin

pronunciation

pronounced as (pit a'' va stat' in)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Pitavastatin is used together with diet, weight-loss, and exercise to reduce the amount of fatty substances such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ('bad cholesterol') in the blood and to increase the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ('good cholesterol'). Pitavastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body to decrease the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.

Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats with pitavastatin has been shown to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attacks.

How should this medicine be used?

Pitavastatin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take pitavastatin at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take pitavastatin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of pitavastatin and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 4 weeks.

Continue to take pitavastatin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking pitavastatin without talking to your doctor.

What are the precautions to be followed?

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to pitavastatin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in pitavastatin tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor if you are taking cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take pitavastatin if you are taking this medication.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); other cholesterol-lowering medications such as fenofibrate (Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), and niacin (nicotinic acid, Niacor, Niaspan); rifampin (Rifadin, in Rifamate, in Rifater, Rimactane); ritonavir (Norvir) taken with atazanavir (Reyataz); or warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Other medications may also interact with pitavastatin, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
• tell your doctor if you have liver disease. Your doctor will order laboratory tests to see how well your liver is working even if you do not think you have liver disease. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take pitavastatin if you have liver disease or if the tests show that you may be developing liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol, if you are 65 years of age or older, if you have ever had liver disease, or if you have or have ever had seizures, muscle aches or weakness, low blood pressure, or thyroid or kidney disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while you are taking pitavastatin. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that will work for you. If you become pregnant while taking pitavastatin, stop taking pitavastatin and call your doctor immediately. Pitavastatin may harm the fetus.
• do not breastfeed while you are taking this medication.
• if you are having surgery, tell the doctor that you are taking pitavastatin. If you are hospitalized due to serious injury or infection, tell the doctor treating you that you are taking pitavastatin.
• ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking pitavastatin. Alcohol can increase the risk of serious side effects.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

• back pain
• constipation
• diarrhea
• memory loss or forgetfulness
• confusion

• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
• fever
• nausea
• extreme tiredness
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• lack of energy
• weakness
• loss of appetite
• pain in the upper right part of the stomach
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• dark urine
• flu-like symptoms
• rash
• itching
• hives

Pitavastatin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light, excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

Drug Category/Class

• Hypolipidemic Agents
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Lipid Modifying Agents, Plain
• Lipid Modifying Agents
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Inhibitors
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Inducers
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inhibitors
• Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inducers
• Cardiovascular System
• HMG CoA reductase inhibitors

Prescribed	Pitavastatin is used to lower serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides, and raise levels of HDL-C for the trea...
Weight :	421.4608
Structure	Pitavastatin
Formula	C25H24FNO4

Pitavastatin has 6 Brands listed

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