Pivasta (Pitavastatin) - 4mg (10 Tablets)

What is Pivasta?
Pivasta 4mg contains the active ingredient Pitavastatin (a statin that is used to help in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia or high cholesterol). Pivasta can help to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

Pitavastatin, like most statins, inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol in the body.

How is Pivasta used?
Pivasta 4mg is sold as a strip of 10 tablets. Pivasta 4mg contains 4mg of the active ingredient Pitavastatin. This is the maximum recommended daily dosage. Most people taking Pivasta begin with a 2mg starting dosage. Following this, a 1mg or 4mg maintenance dosage is often prescribed, depending on the treatment response.

Pivasta is also available in a strip of 10 x 1mg tablets or 10 x 2mg tablets.

Pivasta can be taken with or without food. Each tablet should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.

Adverse effects
Common side effects you may experience when taking Pitavastatin include:

• back pain
• constipation
• diarrhea

More serious, but less common side effects you may notice include while taking Pitavastatin include:

• liver problems
• muscular problems (myopathy)
• Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue)
• change in the amount of urine produced
• confusion, memory problems, mental or mood changes (eg, depression)
• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (with or without fever or fatigue)
• symptoms of liver problems (eg, dark urine; pale stools; severe or persistent nausea, loss of appetite, or stomach pain; unusual tiredness; yellowing of the skin or eyes)

If you notice any of the more sever side effects, or if any of the common side effects become troublesome or do not go away over time, contact your doctor. You may need to stop taking Pivasta (Pitavastatin).

Warnings
Do not take Pivasta if you:

• are allergic to any pitavastatin or any other ingredients in these tablets
• have any liver problems or any unexplained abnormal liver function tests
• are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• are taking cyclosporine or gemfibrozil

Before taking Pivasta, tell your doctor of any of the following as they can affect Pivasta:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are able to become pregnant
• if you are taking any other medicines, particularly colchicine, cyclosporine, daptomycin, erythromycin, fibrates (fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, etc), niacin, rifampin or warfarin
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have diabetes, kidney problems, low blood pressure, a serious infection, or a history of seizures
• if you have muscle problems (eg, pain, weakness), an underactive thyroid, or if you are dehydrated
• if you have metabolism, hormonal, endocrine, or electrolyte problems
• if you drink alcohol or have a history of liver problems or alcohol abuse
• if you are on dialysis
• if you have recently had major surgery or a serious injury