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pitavastatin Side Effects

Also known as: Livalo

Analysis of 3,148 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2004 to 2025.

Total Reports

3,148

Death-Related

561

17.8% of reports

Hospitalizations

1,405

44.6% of reports

Top Indication

Product Used For Unknown Indication

Most Reported Adverse Reactions

MYALGIA
408
DIARRHOEA
335
DIZZINESS
285
DYSPNOEA
281
DECREASED APPETITE
280
PYREXIA
278
NAUSEA
274
FATIGUE
273
PRURITUS
272
HEADACHE
269
MALAISE
265
FALL
264
ARTHRALGIA
261
ASTHENIA
255
ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
250
TACHYCARDIA
243
INSOMNIA
242
SEPSIS
240
VOMITING
237
CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ARREST
235

Who Reports Side Effects

Gender Distribution

Female 1,221 (48%)
Male 1,308 (52%)
Unknown 7

Age Distribution

0-17 66 (3%)
18-44 106 (5%)
45-64 662 (28%)
65-74 772 (33%)
75+ 733 (31%)

Reporting Trend by Year

2004 2025

Reactions in Death Reports

Top reactions reported in 561 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.

Reaction Reports
HAEMORRHAGIC STROKE 233
CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ARREST 229
TACHYCARDIA 229
DIARRHOEA 227
ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS 223
DYSPNOEA 221
SEPSIS 221
FALL 219
OCULAR DISCOMFORT 217
PRURITUS 216
AMAUROSIS FUGAX 215
HAEMATEMESIS 215
ASCITES 214
EYE PAIN 214
DIZZINESS 213
HEAD DISCOMFORT 213
ARTHRALGIA 212
BLINDNESS 212
CHILLS 212
COMA 211

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

Top reactions in 1,405 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.

Reaction Reports
PYREXIA 92
PNEUMONIA 73
DIARRHOEA 67
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE 59
DECREASED APPETITE 58
MALAISE 55
ANAEMIA 54
HEPATIC FUNCTION ABNORMAL 53
OFF LABEL USE 51
NAUSEA 44
CARDIAC FAILURE 43
DYSPNOEA 42
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 41
DIZZINESS 40
CONDITION AGGRAVATED 39
DEHYDRATION 39
FALL 39
CEREBRAL INFARCTION 36
RENAL IMPAIRMENT 35
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA 33

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What the FAERS Data Reveals About pitavastatin Side Effects

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 3,148 voluntary reports linked to pitavastatin and its brand equivalents (Livalo), spanning 2004 through 2025. Of those, 561 (17.8%) listed death as an outcome and 1,405 (44.6%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Product Used For Unknown Indication.

Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 48% were female and 52% male; age distribution skews toward 65-74, with 772 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is myalgia with 408 submissions, followed by diarrhoea and dizziness.

FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.