Statin Side Effects
Statins, while taken by millions of Americans each year, have some side effects associated with them. Muscle pain, or myalgia, is one of the more common side effects of statin therapy.
Did you know: 62% of former statin users indicated that side effects were the reason they stopped taking their medication.1
Cause of statin side effects: The risk of statin side effects increases with the statin dosage. As a rule of thumb, the higher the dose of statin you take, the higher the statin concentration in your blood, leading to a greater risk of a side effect such as muscle pain.
Factors affecting statin concentration in your blood:
- Other medications: Statins can interact with other drugs or supplements you may be taking, so be sure to disclose these to your healthcare provider. Zypitamag (pitavastatin) is processed by your body differently than other statins. As a result, it has a reduced potential to interact with certain medications you may be taking.
- The time you take your statin: Some statins need to be strictly taken in the evening. This is because the cholesterol-making enzyme in our body is more active at night. Zypitamag (pitavastatin), tends to be more stable in your body and, as a result, can be taken at any time of the day.
- Taking a statin with or without food: Eating food can change how your body absorbs medications. Some statins need to be taken with a meal, while others should be taken on an empty stomach. Zypitamag (pitavastatin), can be taken with or without food.
- Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit juice can increase the concentration of statins in your blood, increasing the risk of side effects. Zypitamag (pitavastatin), does not interact with grapefruit juice, and therefore, you can continue to enjoy your delicious grapefruit juice.
What to do if you have statin-related side effects?
If you experience side effects, you should talk to your healthcare provider. Altering the statin dosage or changing to a different statin are potential ways of reducing these adverse side effects.2 Not all statins are the same.
Why Zypitamag may be the solution to your problems
Zypitamag is the latest form of pitavastatin to be approved by the FDA in the United States. Pitavastatin differs from other statins in the way your body processes it. In clinical studies, only 3.1% of patients experience side effects from muscle pain at the highest dose (4 mg).
When comparing its ability to lower LDL cholesterol in clinical studies, 4 mg pitavastatin was shown to be:
- As effective as atorvastatin 20 mg
- As effective as simvastatin 40 mg
- Better than pravastatin 40 mg
Please refer to the Important Safety Information for Zypitamag below.
Common Side Effects of Zypitamag
The most common side effects of Zypitamag (pitavastatin) in clinical studies were:
This is not a complete list of side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.
If you are experience side effects from your statin, please ask your doctor if Zypitamag may be right for you.
Please refer to the Important Safety Information for Zypitamag below.
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Additional resources
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1 Cohen JD et al. J Clin Lipidol. 2012;6(3):208-215
2 Grundy et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019; 73(24): e285-e350
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for ZYPITAMAG® (pitavastatin) tablets
Who should NOT take ZYPITAMAG?
ZYPITAMAG is not right for everyone. Do not take ZYPITAMAG if:
- You have a known allergy to ZYPITAMAG or any of its ingredients.
- You have active liver problems, including some abnormal liver test results.
- You are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant, as it may harm the baby.
- You are currently taking cyclosporine or gemfibrozil.
What is the most important information I should know and talk to my doctor about?
- Call your healthcare provider or get help right away if you experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as rash, itching, or hives.
- Muscle problems may be an early sign of rare, serious conditions. Tell your doctor right away if you have any unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever, or if these muscle signs or symptoms persist after discontinuing ZYPITAMAG.
- Serious liver problems have been reported rarely in patients taking statins, including pitavastatin. Your doctor should do liver tests before you start, and if you have symptoms of liver problems while you are taking ZYPITAMAG. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you feel more tired than usual, have a loss of appetite, upper belly pain, dark-colored urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
- Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications you take including nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.
- Increases in blood sugar levels have been reported with statins, including pitavastatin.
- Tell your doctor about your alcohol use.
- Tell your healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy.
What are the most common side effects of ZYPITAMAG?
The most common side effects of ZYPITAMAG in clinical studies were:
- Back pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Muscle pain
- Pain in the legs or arms
This is not a complete list of side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of all drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
How should I store and take ZYPITAMAG?
- Store ZYPITAMAG tablets at room temperature, in a dry place, and out of the reach of children.
- Take ZYPITAMAG orally once daily with or without food at the same time each day.
- Swallow the tablet whole. Do not split, crush, dissolve, or chew.
- The maximum recommended dosage is ZYPITAMAG 4 mg once daily.
- If you take too much ZYPITAMAG or you or someone else takes an overdose, call your doctor and/or local Poison Control Center.
Other important information I should know about ZYPITAMAG.
- ZYPITAMAG has not been studied to evaluate its effect on reducing heart-related disease or death.
- ZYPITAMAG is available by prescription only.
For additional information, please see the full Prescribing Information.
