Livalo Dosage/Direction for Use

Posology: Patients should be on a cholesterol lowering diet before treatment. It is important that all patients continue dietary control during treatment. The usual starting dose is 1mg or 2mg once daily. Adjustment of dose should be made at intervals of 4 weeks or more. Doses should be individualized according to LDL-C levels, the goal of therapy and patient response. The maximum daily dose is 4mg.
Elderly: No dose adjustment necessary in patients older than 70 years (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Paediatric population: Children and adolescents aged 6 years and over: LIVALO use in children should only be carried out by physicians experienced in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia and progress should be regularly reviewed.
In children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia the usual starting dose is 1mg once daily. Adjustment of dose should be made at intervals of 4 weeks or more. Doses should be individualized according to LDL-C levels, the goal of therapy and patient response. In children 6 to 9 years of age the maximum daily dose is 2mg. In children 10 years or older the maximum daily dose is 4mg (see Adverse Reactions, Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Children younger than 6 years of age: The safety and efficacy of LIVALO in children below 6 years of age has not been established and no data are available.
Patients with impaired renal function: Moderate and severe renal impairment (glomerular filtration rate 30 - 59 and 15 - 29 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively) as well as end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis: Starting dose of 1 mg once daily and maximum dose of 2 mg once daily.
Patients with mild to moderate impaired hepatic function: The 4mg dose is not recommended in patients with mild to moderate impaired hepatic function. A maximum daily dose of 2mg may be given with close monitoring (see Precautions and Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Method of Administration: For oral use only and should be swallowed whole, or half tablet of 2mg if requiring 1mg of pitavastatin calcium. LIVALO can be taken at any time of the day with or without food. It is desirable that the patient takes the tablet at the same time each day. Statin therapy is generally more effective in the evening due to the circadian rhythm of lipid metabolism.
If a child or adolescent is unable to swallow the tablet, where necessary, the tablet may be dispersed in a glass of water and taken immediately. To ensure accurate dosage a second volume of water should be used to rinse the glass and swallowed immediately. Tablets must not be dispersed in either acidic fruit juices or milk.