Are OTC Statins Available? Not Yet, But They Could Be Soon
Statins are a medication class commonly prescribed to treat high cholesterol. Research indicates OTC statins may be available soon. Learn more.
Zypitamag
Used for Coronary Artery Disease, High Cholesterol
Used for Coronary Artery Disease, High Cholesterol
Zypitamag, the brand name for pitavastatin magnesium, is a moderate-intensity statin. It lowers "bad" cholesterol in adults. Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) is a tablet that's taken by mouth once per day at any time of day. Side effects include muscle pain, back pain, and constipation. To get the most out of treatment, follow a heart-healthy diet while taking this medication.
What is Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium)?
What is Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) used for?
- High cholesterol in adults
How Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) works
Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) is a statin. The main way it works is by blocking a protein) in the liver that makes cholesterol. By blocking this protein, Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) affects different types of cholesterol and fats in the body.
- It lessens the amount of "bad" cholesterol in the blood. "Bad" cholesterol is also called low-density lipoprotein or LDL.
- It also lowers the amount of triglyceride (a type of fat in the blood).
- It helps raise the amount of "good" cholesterol by a little bit in the body. "Good" cholesterol is also called high-density lipoprotein or HDL.
When does Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Zypitamag |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Statin |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Back pain (up to 4%)
- Constipation (up to 4%)
- Muscle pain (up to 3%)
- Diarrhea (up to 3%)
- Pain in arm or leg (up to 2%)
Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis): severe muscle weakness or pain, dark brown urine, fever, extreme tiredness
- Liver problems: swelling of your stomach, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, dark or brown urine, confusion
When do Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Risk of muscle pain
Risk of back pain
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
More on Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) side effects
The following Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Difficulty with moving
joint pain
muscle ache, cramp, pain, or stiffness
pain in the arms and legs
swollen joints
Incidence not known
Chills
clay-colored stools
dark urine
difficulty breathing
dizziness
general feeling of discomfort or illness
headache
hives or welts, itching skin, or rash
loss of appetite
shivering
stomach pain
sweating
trouble sleeping
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
discouragement
feeling sad or empty
inability to have or keep an erection
irritability
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
loss of interest or pleasure
loss of memory
problems with memory
redness of the skin
trouble concentrating
unsteadiness or awkwardness
weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$266.58
GoodRx discount
$91.95
Pros and cons of Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium)
Pros
- Generally lowers "bad" cholesterol (LDL) by about 30% to 49%
- Taken once per day with or without food
Cons
- Not approved for children with a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol
- Can't crush the tablets, so might not be a good option for people who have trouble swallowing pills whole
Pharmacist tips for Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium)
- Mark your calendar for any blood work that you need to get while taking Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium). These blood tests check your cholesterol levels to see how well the medication is working. They also check your liver health to make sure it's still safe for you to take.
- Take Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) once a day at a time that's convenient for you. It's best to take the medication at around the same time every day to help make it a part of your daily routine. This can help you remember to take your medication.
- You can take Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) with or without food. Sometimes, the medication can hurt your stomach. If this happens, you can try taking it with food next time to help.
- Swallow the Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) tablets whole. Don't cut, crush, or chew them. Talk to your prescriber if you have trouble swallowing the tablets whole.
- Tell your prescriber if you have muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. This can be a side effect of Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium), and your care team can help manage it. But get medical help right away if you also have dark-colored urine or fever. These might be signs of rhabdomyolysis (serious muscle breakdown).
- Limit how much alcohol you drink while taking Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium). Drinking alcohol with this medication can raise your risk of muscle pain and serious liver problems. Talk to your prescriber about how much you drink and what steps to take to stay safe during treatment.
- Tell your care team about all the medications you take so they can make sure they're safe together. Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) interacts with many medications. This can raise your risk for muscle damage. Examples of interacting medications include fenofibrate and cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf, Sandimmune).
- Continue to follow a healthy, balanced diet and regularly exercise while taking Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium). This helps you get the most benefit out of your treatment. Talk with your care team about meal planning and the types of exercise that are right for you.
More on Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) tips
Risks and warnings for Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium)
Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe muscle pain and damage
- Risk factors: Ages 65 years and older | Hypothyroidism that's not well-controlled | Kidney problems | Taking a higher dose of Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) | Taking other medications that can also cause muscle problems or interact with Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium)
Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) can cause muscle pain, tenderness, and weakness. Rarely, it can cause rhabdomyolysis. This is a serious and life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney damage. You're at higher risk if you take other medications that cause muscle damage or interact with Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium).
Although rare, statins like Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) can cause immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM). This is an autoimmune condition that causes muscle inflammation and muscle weakness. It might continue even after stopping the medication. You'll need to take other medications to treat IMNM.
Let your care team know if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. And get medical help right away if you have severe muscle pain, dark-colored urine, or extreme tiredness. These can be signs of rhabdomyolysis. Depending on your symptoms, you might need to stop taking Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium).
Liver problems
- Risk factors: History of liver problems | Drinking large amounts of alcohol
Some people who took Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) had elevated liver enzyme levels. This could be a sign of damage to the liver. Most times, this happens soon after starting the medication. But it's usually temporary and doesn't cause symptoms. Rarely, liver failure that's sometimes life-threatening has happened.
Before starting Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium), you might need a blood test to check your liver health. People with liver failure or severe liver cirrhosis shouldn't take this medication. You might also need regular blood tests during treatment to make sure it's still safe to take.
Get medical help right away if you have yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe stomach pain, dark or bloody stools, or dark urine. These could be signs of liver damage. You might need to stop taking Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) to prevent more harm to the liver.
Higher blood sugar levels
- Risk factors: High blood sugar
Some research suggests that statins like Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) might raise blood sugar levels. This could lead to higher hemoglobin A1C levels (average blood sugar over 3 months). But healthcare professionals believe that the benefits of statins outweigh this risk.
Tell your prescriber if you have diabetes or high blood sugar before you start Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium). You might need to check your blood sugar more often. Also, follow a healthy, balanced diet and get regular exercise while you're taking Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium).
Possible risk of harm during pregnancy or breastfeeding
Stop taking Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) and tell your prescriber if you're pregnant. This medication isn't recommended during pregnancy unless the benefits are greater than the risks. Statins might harm an unborn baby. Talk to your prescriber about safe treatment options if you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant.
Breastfeeding is also not recommended while you're taking Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium). Some statins can get into breast milk and might harm the baby. Talk to your prescriber or a lactation consultant about safe feeding options.
More on Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) warnings
Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 2mg of Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) is $91.95 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 65.51% off the average retail price of $266.58.
Interactions between Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) and other drugs
Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
More on Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Cyclosporine
- Letermovir
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Bezafibrate
- Ciprofibrate
- Clofibrate
- Colchicine
- Darolutamide
- Darunavir
- Enasidenib
- Erythromycin
- Fenofibrate
- Fenofibric Acid
- Gemfibrozil
- Leflunomide
- Niacin
- Rifampin
- Teriflunomide
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Eltrombopag
- Fostemsavir
How much does Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) cost?
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Zypitamag (brand)
$91.95
Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) will not be safe for you to take.
- Take with cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf, Sandimmune)
- Liver cirrhosis
- Liver failure
What are alternatives to Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
