Livalo (pitavastatin) has become the trusted second-line statin prescribed by tens of thousands of healthcare professionals. It has become easier to prescribe as 143 million patients are covered under commercial managed care plans and 23 million people are covered for this prescription under Medicare Part D. With statin prescriptions becoming more popular across the United States, you may want to know more information about this medication, especially about how long Livalo will stay in your system.
The FDA states that Livalo has the following half-life information:
Peak plasma accumulation: 1 hour after initial dosage
Mean plasma elimination half-life: 12 hours
Livalo has an oral bioavailability of 51%. Further, it is more than 99% bound to the proteins in plasma; this feature allows for the body to fully transmit the drug throughout the body to deal with cholesterol levels. There is very little metabolization of the drug in the colon as it is absorbed in the small intestine. Enzymes that normally eliminate the statin (CYP2C9 and CYP2C8) only marginally metabolize it. The body eliminates this drug through urine and feces.
Eating high-fat meals will impact the effects of Livalo (pitavastatin). Specifically, a meal with 50% fat will decrease the maximum serum concentration levels of this statin in the body. This figure means that this medication may not reach the desired peak concentration to help lower cholesterol levels before it becomes eliminated from the body; this process negatively impacts its effectiveness.
FAQ
What is the half-life of Livalo?
Half-life of a drug represents the amount of time it takes for half of the drug’s concentration to be eliminated from the body. In the case of Livalo / pitavastatin the half life is 12 hours.
Livalo reaches its peak plasma accumulation within 1 hour (after the initial dosage taken once a day). It can be taken in the morning or at night. Roughly 79% of Livalo will be excreted through feces within 7 days.
How long does Livalo stay in your system?
Livalo is normally detectable through blood testing performed by your medical provider. It is also detectable through feces, and marginally detectable in urine at 15%.
- Your blood for 12 hours
- Your feces for 7 days
Your medical provider may perform a variety of tests, such as blood testing, urine testing, feces testing and hair testing, to determine how much this medication is still detectable in the system. By performing these tests, the healthcare provider can alter the dosage to lower the risk of side effects impacting the body.
While the drug has a half-life of 12 hours, it will slowly metabolize and then be excreted through feces up to 7 days after your last dose. If you have certain diseases or medical conditions, such as hepatic dysfunction, your medical provider will perform liver enzyme testing before and during Livalo treatments to monitor enzyme levels.
How long does it take for statins to leave your system?
Since this medication is only marginally metabolized in the system, it is mainly excreted through feces. It will take approximately 7 days for 79% of the drug to leave the body in your stools.
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