<h2>Understanding Statins and Muscle Pain</h2><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jO6Rn4KlJVQ"></iframe><p><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/zypitamag" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Learn about Pitavastatin</a> | <a href="https://patient.zypitamag.com/docs/prescribing_information.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pitavastatin Prescribing Information</a> </p>

Educational Video Content

<h5><strong>Choosing the Right Statin for Your Needs​</strong></h5>
<br>
<p>
With several statin options available, its important to consider your options. Not all statins are the same, just like no two people are the same. Here are some things to discuss with your healthcare provider at your next appointment:​</p>

<ul>
    <li>Which statin intensity or dose is best for me?​</li>
    <li>Does my statin interact with any foods or medications I take?​</li>
    <li>What statin is the safest?​</li>
    <li>Am I at a higher risk of developing statin side effects?</li>
</ul>
<br>
<p><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/compare-statins" target="_blank">Compare Statin Options</a></p><br>

Different Statin Options

<h5><strong>Statin Intol​erance Affects 9.1% of Patients</strong></h5>

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<p>

Statin intolerance is when someone cannot take their statin therapy due to side-effects or adverse events they experience. Certain groups  are at a higher chance of developing statin intolerance including but not limited to:</p>



<ul>

  <li>Being female: 47.9% increase risk​</li>

  <li>Increasing age: 33.1% increased risk​</li>

  <li>Having hypothyroidism: 39.6% increased risk​</li>

  <li>Being overweight: 30.6% increased risk</li>

</ul>

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<p>Learn more about additional <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/statin-intolerance" target="_blank">statin intolerance risk factors</a> here and what you can do.</p>

Statin Intolerance and Side Effects

<p>Statins affect different patient types differently. If you are living with diabetes, are of Asian descent, have multiple risk factors for heart disease, or are taking multiple medications then this video is right for you. </p><p>Watch this video about <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/statins-for-patient-types" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statin use in specific patient types</a>.</p>

Statin Use in Specific Patient Types

<p>Pitavastatin is a third-generation statin that is different from other statins. </p><p>Learn more about <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/5-things-to-know-about-pitavastatin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5 things to know about pitavastatin</a>.</p>

5 Things to Know About Pitavastatin

<p>Statins are known to lower Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels in our body. However, certain statins effect these levels more than others.</p><p>Learn more about <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/statins-and-coq10" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statins and their effects on CoQ10 levels</a>. </p>

Statins and CoQ10

Other Related Videos

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<h2>Have medication questions?<br>Talk with a pharmacist today.</h4>
<p>Call us for a free pharmacy consult.<br><br>
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<p>A vast majority of the U.S population suffers from <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/high-cholesterol" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">high cholesterol</a>. Unlike most other diseases, high cholesterol frequently presents with no symptoms and can be considered a silent killer. Today, over 70 million adult Americans have high cholesterol, yet only 1 in 3 actually have the condition under control.</p><h4><strong>What are statins?</strong></h4><p>Statins are the first line of defense against <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/cholesterol-what-it-is-and-why-you-should-care" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">high cholesterol</a> and have been around for decades. The first statin, lovastatin, was approved in the United States over 30 years ago on September 1st, 1987. Since then, statin use has increased steadily over the years, and today they are one of the most widely prescribed medications in the U.S. In fact, nearly 1 in 4 adults over 40 years of age are taking a <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/compare-statins" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statin</a>.</p><p>The most commonly used statin in the U.S right now is atorvastatin, which was approved in 1996. While the majority of statins currently available are several decades old, there are newer statin options available. Pitavastatin was <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/statin-use-way-up-pitavastatin-introduced-to-the-u-s-as-a-next-generation-statin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">introduced to the U.S. in 2009</a> and is the most recently approved type of statin. Pitavastatin is different than most statins—<strong>let’s discuss how!</strong></p><h4><strong>What are drug interactions?</strong></h4><p>Drug interactions don’t typically refer to drugs directly interacting with other drugs. Instead, drugs, supplements, or <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/foods-that-increase-your-risk-of-statin-side-effects" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">foods can interact</a> with each other indirectly by stimulating or inhibiting different enzymatic processes in our bodies. Under certain circumstances, this can lead to unintended interactions.</p><p>Statins, like atorvastatin, are metabolized in our liver by an enzyme called cytochrome P450 (CYP450). This enzyme helps to break down the statin and remove it from our body after it has done its job of lowering cholesterol. Unfortunately, 70-80% of medications are also processed by the same family of enzymes. When these enzyme pathways become too busy it can lead to drug interactions.</p><p>Newer statins like pitavastatin are different than most statins and are not processed by these same enzymes. Therefore, there is less potential for certain interactions.</p><h4><strong>Do drug interactions cause statin side effects?</strong></h4><p><strong>The short answer is yes, they can.</strong></p><p>In most cases, your doctor or pharmacist should be able to predict when these interactions will occur and often can modify the medications you are taking to reduce the chance of a bad interaction from occurring. For example, <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/statin-muscle-pain-is-more-common-then-you-think-will-switching-statins-help" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statin-related side effects like muscle pain</a> (called myalgia), while relatively rare, typically increase with the statin dosage. Therefore, if you are taking 40 mg of atorvastatin and are experiencing muscle aches or pain, your doctor may first try to reduce your dose to 20 mg to see if that will help.</p><p>Now how does this relate to drug interactions? As discussed earlier, 70-80% of medications are metabolized by the CYP450 family of enzymes. In addition, some supplements and certain foods can also interact with these enzymes. A classic example of the effects of a drug interaction occurs when someone takes atorvastatin in combination with grapefruit juice. Grapefruit juice inhibits the CYP450 family of enzymes. When this enzyme is blocked, this can result in an increased amount of atorvastatin in your blood, which can greatly increase the risk of muscle pains and aches.</p><p>That’s why it’s so important for your healthcare provider to know about all the over-the-counter products, supplements, and prescription medications you are currently taking.</p><h4><strong>Newer Statins bypass this common enzyme pathway and have reduced potential for certain drug interactions</strong></h4><p>There is good news. There is a newer statin available now called pitavastatin. Pitavastatin (available under the brand name of<a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/zypitamag" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Zypitamag<sup>®</sup></a> at Marley Drug) bypasses this enzyme family and is instead mainly processed by a less busy enzyme family called UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, or UGTs. This pathway results in a reduced potential for certain interactions with other medications. It’s like comparing a crowded freeway with a dedicated express lane.</p><p>If you ever experience <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/should-i-stop-taking-my-statin-medication" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">side effects from your statin</a>, be sure to talk to your healthcare team right away. There are lots of statin options available. If you have had issues with your statin in the past that doesn’t mean you will have the same issue with every single statin.&nbsp;Not all patients are the same. Not all statins are the same.</p>

A vast majority of the U.S population suffers from high cholesterol. Unlike most other diseases, high cholesterol frequently presents with no symptoms and can be considered a silent killer. Today, over 70 million adult Americans have high cholesterol, yet only 1 in…

Statins are a common medication to treat high cholesterol. Drug interactions can lead to statin side effects, however, these are often avoidable. Learn more.

How Drug Interactions Can Cause Statin Side Effects

Cholesterol

Heart Health

Do Drug Interactions cause Statin Side Effects?

<p><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/what-are-statins">Statins</a> are the primary medications used to lower high levels of <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/high-cholesterol" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cholesterol</a>. In the United States alone, they are one of the most highly prescribed medications, with over 221 million prescriptions recorded annually and close to 40 million adult Americans reporting their use.</p><p>The most recently published guideline on the management of blood cholesterol recommends the routine use of statin therapy in a multitude of patients 40 – 75 years of age with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as other risk-enhancing factors for cardiovascular disease (e.g. <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/diabetes">diabetes</a>, prior history of cardiovascular disease).</p><h3>Benefits of Lower LDL-C</h3><p>LDL-C is often referred to as the 'bad' cholesterol and can build up along the walls of your arteries and increase your <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/cholesterol-what-it-is-and-why-you-should-care/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">risk of developing cardiovascular disease</a>. In fact, studies have shown that low LDL-C levels are directly correlated with a lower risk of developing a heart attack or stroke. Statins work by blocking one of the enzymes responsible for the manufacture of cholesterol in your liver, reducing the total amount of LDL-C in your blood.</p><p>Therefore, in theory, a healthcare provider would want to prescribe a statin that lowers a patient’s LDL-C the most. In reality, these <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/compare-statins" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more potent statins</a> can increase the risk of a patient developing severe side effects, such as muscle pain. Therefore, a balance needs to be struck between lowering a patient’s LDL-C effectively, while also minimizing the risk of side effects that they may experience.</p><h3>Statin Intensity</h3><p>Cholesterol guidelines categorize statins (and their respective doses) into 3 main categories of intensity, depending on their ability to lower LDL-C.</p><ul><li>High-intensity statins: The most potent, with very high levels of LDL-C lowering achieved (greater than 50%).</li><li>Moderate-intensity statins: Associated with medium levels of LDL-C lowering (between 30% and 50%)</li><li>Low-intensity statins: Associated with lower levels of LDL-C reduction (less than 30%).</li></ul><p>If a patient is unable to achieve the desired level of LDL-C reduction, their healthcare provider may increase the dose of their medication or may switch them to a more intense therapy (e.g. move from a moderate-intensity to a high-intensity statin).</p><p>Unfortunately, a patient’s risk of muscle pain is directly associated with higher, more intense doses of statin medication. This means that as you increase the dose of your statin, or move to a higher-intensity statin, your risk of muscle pain also increases.</p><p>In some cases, a patient is unable to tolerate a higher dose statin but still needs to achieve lower levels of LDL-C. In these situations, what options are available?</p><h3>Benefits of Ezetimibe (generic Zetia<sup>®</sup>)</h3><p><img src="https://marley-storage.imgix.net/4f07d7da-d47a-4068-90cc-de3571f2455d/BL-202202-combinationtherapy-2.png">Cholesterol found in the blood comes from 2 primary sources: cholesterol synthesis in the liver (which can be blocked by the use of statins) and cholesterol that has been absorbed by your intestines from the food you eat. By inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and uptake in these 2 areas, you can more effectively decrease the LDL-C level in your blood.</p><p><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/ezetimibe-zetia-for-high-cholesterol">Ezetimibe</a> (generic Zetia<sup>®</sup>) is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor that interferes with dietary cholesterol by blocking its absorption in the small intestine. On its own, ezetimibe only demonstrates an LDL-C reduction of approximately 15%, which is why it is most commonly used in combination with ongoing statin therapy.</p><p>This combination increases the overall LDL-C reduction by effectively blocking the 2 main pathways where LDL-C is added to your blood.<br><br><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/save-90-on-generic-zetia-from-marley-drug" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">See how you can save 90% on generic Zetia at Marley Drug.</a></p><h3>Benefits of Combination Therapy</h3><p>Combination therapy is most commonly used when a patient is at high risk for heart disease, but <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/statin-not-enough-what-else-can-you-do/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statin therapy alone is not effective at lowering LDL-C</a> to its desired level.&nbsp;</p><p>For example, a patient on a high-intensity statin may achieve an LDL-C reduction of 55% but experiences intolerable levels of back pain. Their healthcare provider switches them over to a moderate-intensity statin and the occurrence of back pain is significantly lowered, but the patient is now only able to lower their LDL-C by 44%. As this patient is at a high risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event (due to other existing health conditions), they need to add on an additional therapy to get them back over the 50% level of LDL-C lowering. By adding on ezetimibe, the patient may now be able to obtain an LDL-C reduction of up to 59%, even more than they were receiving on the high-intensity statin alone!</p><p>Unlike some combination therapies, the use of statins and ezetimibe together is considered safe, with minimal risk of increased side effects like muscle pain.</p><h3>Other Lipid-Lowering Options</h3><p>For patients that are unable to achieve their LDL-C lowering goals, there are a few other options to consider. PCSK9 inhibitors are injectable lipid-lowering drugs that block the activity of PCSK9 proteins. These proteins break down the receptors responsible for cholesterol absorption, so by blocking this action and allowing the body to absorb more cholesterol, LDL-C levels in the blood are effectively lowered. </p><p>Another more recent option for LDL-C reduction is through the use of adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitors. They block the liver’s ability to produce cholesterol similar to statins. Currently, the only ACL inhibitor available on the market is bempedoic acid (Nexletol<sup>®</sup>). While both of these drug classes do have their advantages, they remain expensive options to many, and importantly, are still meant to be used in combination with statin therapy.</p><h3>Affordable Combination Therapy</h3><p>If you need high levels of lipid-lowering but are unable to tolerate the side effects that come along with your medications, talk to your healthcare provider about combination therapy and send your prescription to Marley Drug for massive savings.</p><p>Through Marley Drug, you can get many generic statins or ezetimibe from our <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/wholesale-price-list">Wholesale Price List</a>. We also have branded Zypitamag (pitavastatin) tablets available for only $1 per day. Click <a href="https://patient.zypitamag.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> to find out why Zypitamag might be the right choice for you!</p>

<p>Click below to see the pricing for some of these medications:</p>
<h4 style="margin-bottom:10px;">Statin Therapies:</h4>

<ul>
<li style="margin-bottom:5px;"><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/checkout/pitavastatin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zypitamag (pitavastatin)</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:5px;"><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/checkout/atorvastatin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Atorvastatin</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:5px;"><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/checkout/rosuvastatin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rosuvastatin</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:5px;"><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/checkout/Simvastatin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Simvastatin</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:5px;"><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/checkout/pravastatin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pravastatin</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:5px;"><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/checkout/Fluvastatin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fluvastatin</a></li>
</ul>

<h4 style="margin-bottom:10px;">Combination Therapy:</h4>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/checkout/Ezetimibe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ezetimibe</a></li>
</ul>
<br>
<p><h6><strong>Data was informed by:</strong><br> (1) Hammersley D, and Signey M. Ezetimibe: an update on its clinical usefulness in specific patient groups. Ther. Adv. Chronic Dis. 2017:8(1):4-11.<br> (2) Masana et al. Reasons Why Combination Therapy Should Be the New Standard of Care to Achieve the LDL-Cholesterol Target. Curr. Cardiol. Rep. 2020;22(8):66.<br>(3) Salami JA., et al. National Trends in Statin Use and Expenditures in the US Adult Population From 2002 to 2013: Insights from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. JAMA Cardiology. 2017;2(1):56-65.<br>(4) Grundy SM., et al. 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation; 2019;139:e1082-e1143.</p>

This combination increases the overall LDL-C reduction by effectively blocking the 2 main pathways-the liver and small intestines-where LDL-C is added to your blood. It is most commonly used when a patient is at high risk for heart disease, but statin therapy alone is not effective at lowering LDL-C to its desired level.

Combination therapy with a statin and ezetimibe is needed for some patients requiring additional cholesterol lowering when a statin alone isn't enough. Learn more.

Combination Therapy for Better Lipid Lowering Results | Ezetimibe

Living Heart-Healthy: Understanding How Combination Therapy Benefits You

<p>Being diagnosed with <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/high-cholesterol">high cholesterol</a> can be an emotional experience.  The first thought is often: 'What can I do to fix this?' What lifestyle changes can I make? How do I get myself back on track? </p>

<p>The truth is, that sometimes making <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/high-cholesterol" target="_blank">changes to your diet and exercise</a>, even if they are drastic, aren’t always enough, and medication is required. In this case, the first medication you will likely be prescribed is a <a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/blog/what-are-statins">statin</a>. </p>

<h2>Choosing A Statin</h2>

<p><a href="https://www.marleydrug.com/compare-statins" target="_blank">Choosing the right statin</a> for you can be a challenging task. There are a lot of factors that go into deciding what statin is right for you. </p>

<p>There’s also a lot of negative press about statins in today’s world. Dr. Google is not always the best place to go or give the best advice. The best person to ask is your healthcare provider. </p>

<p>They can guide you through the process, discuss your concerns, and choose a statin that fits your lifestyle and family history.</p>

<h3>Amy’s Experience: Diagnosed with High Cholesterol</h3>

<p>One of our customers reached out to share her journey after being diagnosed with high cholesterol. We felt this story may resonate with a lot of you as you may have a similar experience. </p>

<div style="background-color:#F0F3F5; padding:30px 5% 10px 5%; border-left:5px solid #fee203; margin: 20px 0 30px 0;">

<p>Just after my 50<sup>th</sup> birthday last year, my cholesterol levels were awful. I was very hesitant to take statins due to personal autoimmune conditions plus a family history of adult-onset diabetes and requested time to really clean up my diet. Unfortunately, after three months of eating clean, my levels had gotten worse and a prescription was required. Thankfully, my doctor prescribed Zypitamag and the results have been wonderful.</p>

<p>The statin side effect of increased glucose numbers was one of my biggest concerns but they have not increased on Zypitamag at all. As an added bonus, I have not experienced any side effects from this medication. </p>

<p>I have been thrilled to work with you and Marley Drug for my medication. Our insurance only covers the brand Livalo which is cost prohibitive at $863.27 for 90 days. Obviously, Zypitamag through Marly Drug at $103.50 for 90 days is so much better!!</p>

<p>As soon as my doctor submitted the prescription, I was contacted by Terri, who explained the process and set up delivery to my home and payment through my HSA card. It could not have been easier! </p>

<p>I highly recommend Zypitamag and Marley Drug both and look forward to a long and healthy relationship with each one!</p>

</div>

<h6>* Your personal experience with Zypitamag may differ. Zypitamag is an adjunctive therapy to diet in adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. Zypitamag, like all statins, can cause side effects. The most commonly reported side effects with Zypitamag are back pain, constipation, diarrhea, muscle pain, and pain in the legs or arms. This is not a complete list of side effects. Increases in glucose levels and HbA1c have been reported with statins, including pitavastatin. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if Zypitamag is right for you. This is a stock photo which represents an actual patient testimonial.</h6>

<h4 style="font-weight:600;">About Zypitamag</h4>

<p>Zypitamag (pitavastatin), a third-generation statin, has a reduced potential for interactions with foods and many commonly prescribed medications. Click the button below to learn more about this third generation statin.</p>

<a class="btn btn-center btn-brand" href="https://www.marleydrug.com/zypitamag">Learn about Zypitamag</a>

<h4 style="font-weight:600;">Questions about your Statin and Cholesterol?</h4>

<p>We’re here to help. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with high cholesterol, or have questions about your statin, give us a call and one of our pharmacists would be happy to answer your questions.</p>

<p>Call us at <a href="tel:800-810-7790">800-810-7790</a> for a free pharmacy consultation. </p>

Just after my 50th birthday last year, my cholesterol levels were awful. I was very hesitant to take statins due to personal autoimmune conditions plus a family history of adult-onset diabetes and requested time to really clean up my diet. Unfortunately, after three months of eating clean, my levels had gotten worse and a prescription was required.

Sometimes diet and exercise aren't enough to lower your cholesterol. Read Amy's story on how she dealt with her cholesterol.

Amy's 50th Birthday Surprise: High Cholesterol

Read Our Blogs on Cholesterol Related Topics!

Muscle pain is the #1 reason people stop taking statins. While you may have side-effects like muscle pain from one statin, that may not be the case with a different statin.

Understanding Statins and Muscle Pain

Choosing the Right Statin for Your Needs

Statin Intolerance Affects 9.1% of Patients

Other Related Videos

Statin Use in Specific Patient Types

5 Things to Know About Pitavastatin

Statins and CoQ10

Have medication questions?
Talk with a pharmacist today.

Read Our Blogs on Cholesterol Related Topics!

Do Drug Interactions cause Statin Side Effects?

Living Heart-Healthy: Understanding How Combination Therapy Benefits You

Amy's 50th Birthday Surprise: High Cholesterol

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Understanding Statins and Muscle Pain

Choosing the Right Statin for Your Needs​

Statin Intol​erance Affects 9.1% of Patients

Other Related Videos

Statin Use in Specific Patient Types

5 Things to Know About Pitavastatin

Statins and CoQ10

Have medication questions?Talk with a pharmacist today.

Do Drug Interactions cause Statin Side Effects?

Living Heart-Healthy: Understanding How Combination Therapy Benefits You

Amy's 50th Birthday Surprise: High Cholesterol

Choosing the Right Statin for Your Needs

Statin Intolerance Affects 9.1% of Patients

Have medication questions?
Talk with a pharmacist today.