As with many other medications out on the market, there may be situations where taking Livalo (pitavastatin) will cause some type of interaction. In these cases, starting Livalo is not recommended. If you are currently taking Livalo, your usage may be adjusted to lower or prevent the risk of negative interactions that can occur from other medical conditions, other drugs, or when consuming food and beverages.
Drug Interactions
According to the FDA, the following drugs may interact with Livalo.
- Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf)
- Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
- Erythromycin (E.E.S. 400, E.E.S. Granules, EryPed 200)
- Rifampin (Rifadin)
- Fibrates
- Niacin
- Colchicine (Mitigare, Colcrys)
- Others not listed here
Please take note that the above list may not be complete. Other interactions may occur with drugs that are not listed here.
Livalo and Fenofibrate
Some people may experience an adverse interaction when taking Livalo with fenofibrate (Triglide, Fibricor, Trilipix), another drug which may also be used to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. While the interaction cause is unknown, people have experienced flu-like symptoms, severe muscle pain, and a reduction in the amount of urine. The interaction may be worse for people who have types of kidney problems.
Livalo and Zetia
Zetia (ezetimibe) is a cholesterol medication; it works as an absorption inhibitor. It may be given with other statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors), such as Livalo. However, it has been found that when Zetia and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are taken together, there may be a rare increase in myopathy and serum transaminases.
Myopathy is a neuromuscular disorder that may cause muscle weakness, muscle cramps or spasms. Serum transaminases are enzymes that are released into the blood from the liver or heart when there is damage.
Pitavastatin and Ezetimibe
Ezetimibe is the generic drug name for Zetia. Ezetimibe is a medicine used to control cholesterol levels. When pitavastatin, which is the generic name of Livalo, is used together, a person may experience muscle weakness, stiffness, cramps or spasms known as myopathy. There have also been indications of an elevated release of enzymes known as serum transaminases in the blood that indicate liver damage or heart damage.
Food Interactions
There are times when the food and beverages that we consume will also have an interaction with certain medications. Some foods and drinks that may interact with the drug Livalo include:
- Alcohol
- Grapefruit and grapefruit juice
- Foods high in fat and cholesterol
You should understand that this may not be a complete list of foods and drinks that may interact with Livalo. There may possibly be other foods and beverages that should not be taken with this drug.
Livalo and Alcohol Use
For more information, please visit our page on Livalo and alcohol interactions. (don’t add anything here)
Pitavastatin and Grapefruit
When eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice, there are chemicals present in this food that will attach to the enzymes found in the liver. These chemicals will impact how medications are broken down as they can negatively affect many statin drugs. Instead of the statins becoming metabolized at a normal pace, the statins build up in the blood. This problem can lead to an increased risk of developing side effects.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, people who take pitavastatin and consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice will experience little to no effect. However, every person is different. It is always advisable to speak with your medical professional about consuming grapefruit juice and taking statin medication.
Pitavastatin and High-fat Foods
High-fat foods and foods with cholesterol will impact how effective pitavastatin works. Instead of lowering the cholesterol levels that are currently present in the body, the pitavastatin has to work harder to deal with the new cholesterol levels that will continue to rise after the meal. While pitavastatin can be taken with meals, it is advised that you eat a low fat diet.
Diseases & Conditions Interactions
Sometimes, certain medications can increase the risk of experiencing negative side effects when patients have certain diseases or other medical conditions. According to the FDA, medical conditions and diseases that are known to interact with the drug Livalo include:
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Thyroid disorders
- Hepatic dysfunction
- Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM)
- Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders such as rhabdomyolysis and myopathy
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Hepatobiliary disorders
- Immune system disorders
- Metabolism and nutrition disorders with an increase in HbA1c or fasting serum glucose levels
- Psychiatric disorders
- Reproductive system and breast disorders
Please note that this list may not be complete regarding diseases and disorders. Other medical conditions and diseases may negatively interact with Livalo as patients should not take this medication.
Livalo and Hair Loss
Many statins used to control cholesterol levels will cause hair loss (alopecia) in patients. Currently, there are no hair loss studies or side effects attributed to taking Livalo.
Livalo and Weight Gain
A side effect of Livalo is rapid weight gain. This issue may indicate a possible problem with the kidneys. In addition, Livalo can also cause liver problems that could lead to diarrhea or stomach pain that indicates liver damage.
Livalo and Tinnitus
Currently, there is no information on whether Livalo causes tinnitus in patients. Current studies are being conducted on whether certain groups of statins will have positive benefits to hearing functions and tinnitus, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Livalo and Muscle Pain
An adverse side effect to Livalo is muscle pain, muscle cramps, spasms and stiffness. There may also be muscle tenderness and weakness due to an increase in creatine kinase (myopathy).
Livalo and Arthritis
There are no current studies regarding whether Livalo causes any side effects or interactions with arthritis. However, taking this drug may cause joint pain, which could impact people who have this condition.
Livalo and Leg Cramps
Livalo may cause leg and arm cramps caused by muscle spasms, muscle pain or stiffness.
Livalo and Pregnancy
For more information, please visit our page on Livalo and pregnancy risks.
Pitavastatin and Diabetes
There is no information regarding the impact when taking pitavastatin while having diabetes. It is known, however, that Livalo can cause an increase in blood sugar levels. Clinical studies and trials are being conducted to determine the benefits or negative impacts that long-term statin use causes to diabetics.
Pitavastatin and Myopathy
It is known that pitavastatin can cause myopathy in patients. The risk factors of developing myopathy from pitavastatin include people who are 65 years of age or older, having renal impairment, and having uncontrolled hypothyroidism. Other risk factors include using higher dosages of pitavastatin and taking concomitant use of certain drugs.
People who have been diagnosed with myopathy or where it may be suspected should discontinue use of pitavastatin. You should also talk with your medical provider regarding taking pitavastatin when having myopathy or when considering taking higher doses of this drug.
Pitavastatin and Cancer
It has not yet been proven whether statins such as pitavastatin can cause cancer. Studies are being conducted to determine whether long term use will have any benefits or risks to this disease.
Disclaimer: this article does not constitute or replace medical advice. If you have an emergency or a serious medical question, please contact a medical professional or call 911 immediately. To see our full medical disclaimer, visit our Terms of Use page.
