March 7, 2013

For People With HIV, Livalo Lowers LDL Better Than Pravachol

The statin medication Livalo (pitavastatin) is more effective at lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in HIV-positive adults with high cholesterol than another drug in the same class, Pravachol (pravastatin). Kowa Pharmaceuticals America Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company announced the findings of their 12-week, Phase IV, double-blind study at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Atlanta. In the study, 252 HIV-positive participants, both with and without hepatitis B or C, were randomized one-to-one to receive a daily dose of either 4 mg of Livalo or 40 mg of Pravachol. The primary end point of the study was the percentage drop in LDL cholesterol.  

After 12 weeks of therapy, those taking Livalo saw an average drop in LDL cholesterol of 31 percent, compared with a 21 percent drop in the group taking Pravachol, a difference that was statistically significant, meaning it was too great to have occurred by chance. The percentage of participants experiencing adverse events was similar between the two groups, with 61.1 percent for Livalo and 62.7 percent for Pravachol. The most common adverse events overall included diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, headache, nausea, nasal and pharynx inflammation (nasopharyngitis) and an increase in blood creatine phosphokinase. Eleven subjects (4 percent) left the study because of adverse events.

To read the Eli Lilly release, click here.

Search: Livalo, pitavastatin, statin, cholesterol, LDL, Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Eli Lilly and Company, 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, CROI.

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Previous Comments:

Neil, Dallas, 2013-03-13 11:50:09
Eating fish is a better option than ths statin drugs. I had a bad reaction to the statins after one year of use ( my mind could not focus) My doctor recommended doubling the dose as I only went from 280 to 260. I said no thanks. I gave up statins and ate salmon sushi for 3 months. My cholesterol went from 280 to 180 with no nasty mental side affects. I was not HIV at that time

Patti Bays, Tombstone, 2013-03-13 08:53:18
I went to my doctor yesterday. I had my labs done last month and my viral load is undetectable and my Tcells are 1200+ I am on viread,Isentress,Sustiva,and Epivir. I have been diagnosed positive since 1989.I have been on several cocktails but this one is the best so far!I also went through Hep C treatment 2 years ago and remain Hep C free. My cholesterol; is under control with Lovasa & Provochol.I feel great&almost normal,maybe I will live to be 100!!!