Nicardipine Intravenous and Pitavastatin Calcium, Pitavastatin Magnesium

• Generic Name: nicardipine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Cardene IV, Cardene SR, Cardene

Nicardipine is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks. These problems may be less likely to occur if blood pressure is controlled .

Nicardipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by affecting the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels. As a result, nicardipine relaxes blood vessels and increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload .

Nicardipine is available only with your doctor's prescription .

• Generic Name: pitavastatin
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Livalo, Zypitamag

Available as pitavastatin calcium (e.g., Livalo) and pitavastatin magnesium (i.e., Zypitamag). FDA considers pitavastatin magnesium tablets to be a pharmaceutical alternative (as described in section 505[b][2] of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) and not a pharmaceutical (generic) equivalent to pitavastatin calcium tablets, since both contain the same active moiety (pitavastatin) but have different salts. Clinical efficacy and safety expected to be similar between the 2 salt forms of the drug.

Dyslipidemias

Adjunct to nondrug therapies (e.g., dietary management) to decrease elevated serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B (apo B), and triglyceride concentrations, and to increase HDL-cholesterol concentrations in the management of primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia. Also used in combination with fenofibrate to decrease triglyceride concentrations and increase HDL-cholesterol concentrations in patients with mixed dyslipidemia and CHD (or CHD risk equivalents) who are on optimal statin therapy; however, no incremental benefit on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality beyond that provided by statin monotherapy.

Reductions in LDL-cholesterol concentrations achieved with usual dosages (1–4 mg daily) of pitavastatin are similar to or greater than those achieved with low to medium dosages of certain other statins (i.e., atorvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin).

Safety and efficacy not established in patients with Fredrickson type I, III, or V dyslipidemia. Effect on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality not established.

Prevention of Cardiovascular Events

ACC/AHA cholesterol management guideline recommends statins as first-line therapy for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in adults; extensive evidence demonstrates that statins can substantially reduce ASCVD risk when used for secondary prevention or primary prevention (in high-risk patients). Relative reduction in ASCVD risk is correlated with degree of LDL-cholesterol lowering; therefore, use maximum tolerated statin intensity to achieve optimum ASCVD benefits. According to ACC/AHA, pitavastatin may be used for primary or secondary prevention in adults when moderate-intensity statin therapy is indicated.