(BPT) - We’re in month two of the new year and you’ve (mostly!) stuck to your healthy resolutions — you’re eating nutritious foods, getting plenty of exercise, and feeling pretty good. But have you thought about your heart? February is American Heart Month, a great reminder to check in on your heart health and take steps to manage your cholesterol levels. When armed with basic cholesterol knowledge, you can make simple choices to get your cholesterol levels under control as part of an overall healthier lifestyle.
High cholesterol affects more than 100 million Americans. Still, you may be thinking, “but I feel fine, so why should I care?” Here’s the bottom line: High cholesterol has no signs or symptoms, so while you can’t see it or feel it, high cholesterol can be dangerous if left untreated — it can build up in your arteries, potentially slowing down and even blocking the flow of blood. If the blood supply becomes completely blocked to any part of your heart, it can cause a heart attack, and if blood flow to the brain is blocked, it can result in a stroke.
Scary, right? Fortunately, high cholesterol can be managed by working with a healthcare provider to create an individualized treatment plan, which usually includes a heart-healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise. But if modifying your diet and making healthy lifestyle changes aren’t effectively getting your cholesterol under control, your doctor may also prescribe a statin, a class of life-saving medications that lower cholesterol. There are multiple statin options available, and when doctors choose to prescribe one, there are a number of factors they’ll consider when making that decision. Some of these factors include the age of the person, other medical conditions they may have, and/or other medicines they may be taking — it’s not “one size fits all.”
“Lifestyle choices like unhealthy foods and a sedentary lifestyle could be contributing factors, but high cholesterol can also be hereditary, which is why it’s important for adults to be tested regularly,” says Dr. Shawn Dhillon, medical director at Calvert Medical Group in Baltimore. “If your healthcare provider determines that a statin is needed to help lower your cholesterol, it’s important to let him or her know how that statin is working for you. If you’re experiencing challenges with your statin, like muscle aches and fatigue, your doctor may be able to find an alternative statin that’s better suited for you.”
For those experiencing side effects with their first statin, one switch should be enough. LIVALO® (pitavastatin) is a statin medication that may be better tolerated by some patients. Along with a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise, LIVALO can help improve overall cholesterol levels with lower rates of certain side effects and a reduced potential to interact with certain other medications.
Robert, a patient with high cholesterol, learned first-hand the importance of finding the right treatment plan for him after experiencing painful side effects from other statins. As a life-long athlete, he was surprised to learn he had high cholesterol, largely due to hereditary causes. After experiencing muscle cramps and other side effects through multiple statin switches, his doctor recommended LIVALO, which was the statin that worked best for him. “I don’t feel side effects like I did with other statins. It’s a weight off my shoulders knowing that my cholesterol is being managed properly. It makes my job a lot easier. It makes my life a lot easier. It makes me a lot happier,” explained Robert.
Just like Robert, there are many patients who wish they had found a medication that worked better for them sooner. If you’re having challenges with your first statin, ask your healthcare provider if LIVALO may be right for you, and help protect your heart health this American Heart Month.
Visit livalorx.com to learn more.
Important Safety Information for LIVALO® (pitavastatin) tablets
Who should NOT take LIVALO?
LIVALO is not right for everyone. Do not take LIVALO if:
- You have a known allergy to LIVALO 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 LIVALO.
- Serious liver problems have been reported rarely in patients taking statins, including LIVALO. Your doctor should do liver tests before you start, and if you have symptoms of liver problems while you are taking LIVALO. 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 LIVALO.
- 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 LIVALO?
The most common side effects of LIVALO 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 prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
How should I store and take LIVALO?
- Store LIVALO tablets at room temperature, in a dry place, and out of the reach of children.
- LIVALO can be taken at any time of day, with or without food.
- Swallow the tablet whole. Do not split, crush, dissolve, or chew.
- Do not exceed 4 mg once daily dosing of LIVALO.
Other important information I should know about LIVALO.
- LIVALO has not been studied to evaluate its effect on reducing heart-related disease or death.
- LIVALO is available by prescription only.
For additional information, please see the full Prescribing Information or visit www.LivaloRx.com
(C) Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. (3/2018) – LIV-RA-0111 PI of 11/2016
