alirocumab vs pitavastatin
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of alirocumab and pitavastatin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Praluent
Livalo
Praluent is a medicine that can lower cholesterol. It can also lower the risk of heart problems like heart attack or stroke in some adults.
Pitavastatin (Livalo) is a drug that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) in your blood. It is used along with a healthy diet.
Praluent is used to lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). It is used along with diet and exercise in adults with high cholesterol. It is also used in adults and children 8 years and older who have a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol.
Pitavastatin is used to lower LDL-C (bad cholesterol) in adults. It is for adults who have high cholesterol or who have a genetic condition called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). This medicine works best when you also follow a low-cholesterol diet.
Praluent is a PCSK9 inhibitor. It works by blocking a protein in your body called PCSK9. Blocking this protein helps your body remove LDL cholesterol from your blood.
Pitavastatin belongs to a class of drugs called statins. It works by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. This helps to lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood.
- • Injection site reactions (redness, itching, swelling, pain)
- • Flu
- • Muscle pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Muscle pain
- • Constipation
- • Back pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Pain in your arms or legs
- Myalgia 1,655
- Product Dose Omission 1,364
- Injection Site Pain 1,278
- Muscle Spasms 1,162
- Arthralgia 1,053
- Myalgia 408
- Diarrhoea 335
- Dizziness 285
- Dyspnoea 281
- Decreased Appetite 280
Serious allergic reactions have happened with Praluent, sometimes requiring hospitalization. If you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, stop using Praluent and get medical help right away.
Pitavastatin can cause muscle problems, including myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Tell your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. Pitavastatin can also cause liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before and during treatment.
There is not enough information about Praluent use during pregnancy to know if it is safe. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor before using Praluent.
Do not take pitavastatin if you are pregnant. It can harm your unborn baby. Breastfeeding is also not recommended while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This alirocumab vs pitavastatin Comparison
alirocumab is classified in the PCSK9 Inhibitor drug class, while pitavastatin sits within the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, alirocumab has 6,512 submissions while pitavastatin has 1,589. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for alirocumab or pitavastatin.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.