Lipitor

1 What is Lipitor?

Brand: Lipitor

Generic: Atorvastatin

Lipitor is a member of a group called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or statins.

This medicine decreases the level of LDL (bad cholesterols) and triglyceride (fats) in the blood by inhibiting the enzyme that produces the cholesterol in the body.

This can also lower your risk to develop certain cardiovascular diseases. This product is available in a tablet.

2 What to Know Before Using

Before using Lipitor, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to atorvastatin or to any other medications. Inform your healthcare providers as well if you are allergic to foods, dyes, or animals.

This medicine is appropriate for use in children, adolescents, adults, and elderly. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than in children younger than 10 years of age.

The use of this medication in elderly requires caution as they are more likely to have age-related muscle problems.

Pregnancy category X - Do not use atorvastatin if you are pregnant or expecting a baby because this medication can cause fetal abnormalities.

There are no adequate studies whether atorvastatin can pass through breast milk or if it could cause harmful effects to the infant. Discuss with your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.

Taking this medicine with Posaconazole is not recommended and you may not be required to use this medication. Otherwise, alternative medicine may be prescribed for your other medications.

Taking this medicine with any of the following medications is usually not recommended, but with the exception in some cases.

Dosage or frequency of one or both of your medicines may be changed if both medicines are prescribed together.

  • Atazanavir
  • Bezafibrate
  • Ceritinib
  • Ciprofibrate
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clofibrate
  • Colchicine
  • Conivaptan
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dabrafenib
  • Dalfopristin
  • Danazol
  • Daptomycin
  • Darunavir
  • Diltiazem
  • Domperidone
  • Eliglustat
  • Erlotinib
  • Erythromycin
  • Fenofibrate
  • Fenofibric Acid
  • Fentanyl
  • Fluconazole
  • Fosamprenavir
  • Fusidic Acid
  • Gemfibrozil
  • Idelalisib
  • Indinavir
  • Isavuconazonium Sulfate
  • Itraconazole
  • Ketoconazole
  • Lopinavir
  • Mibefradil
  • Nefazodone
  • Nelfinavir
  • Niacin
  • Nilotinib
  • Piperaquine
  • Quinupristin
  • Saquinavir
  • Simeprevir
  • Telaprevir
  • Telithromycin
  • Tipranavir
  • Troleandomycin
  • Verapamil

Taking this medicine with any of the following medications may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you.

Dosage or frequency of one or both of your medicines may be changed if both medicines are prescribed together.

  • Amiodarone
  • Amprenavir
  • Azithromycin
  • Bexarotene
  • Black Cohosh
  • Boceprevir
  • Bosentan
  • Clopidogrel
  • Digoxin
  • Efavirenz
  • Eltrombopag
  • Etravirine
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Interferon Beta
  • Oat Bran
  • Pectin
  • Phenytoin
  • Pioglitazone
  • Quinine
  • Rifampin
  • St John's Wort
  • Voriconazole

Some medical conditions can interact with this medication.

Tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

  • Alcohol abuse
  • Diabetes
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Liver disease
  • Convulsions
  • Electrolyte disorders
  • Endocrine disorders
  • Hypotension
  • Kidney disease
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Severe infection
  • Liver disease
  • Stroke
  • Transient ischemic attacks
  • Elevated liver enzymes — Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

3 Proper Usage

To use Lipitor properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor.

Take atorvastatin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Excessive use of medication is not recommended.

Your diet may be changed to low-fat and low-cholesterol diet to help this medication take full effect.

This medication must be swallowed whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it unless your doctor told you to do so. You may take this medicine with or without food.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are under this medication. Drinking alcohol with atorvastatin may increase your risk to liver damage.

Avoid drinking large amounts of grape juice if you are taking atorvastatin. Doing so can increase your risk of serious muscle and kidney problems.

Recommended dosage:

  • Adults — starting dose 10 or 20 mg/day. You may need to start at 40 mg/day depending on the case. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor up to 80 mg per day.
  • Children 10 to 17 years of age — starting dose is 10 mg once a day. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor up to 80 mg per day.
  • Children younger than 10 years of age — Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is near for your next dose, skip the missed dose and start again to your regular dosing schedule.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Store the medication in a cool and dry place.

Keep it away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep out of reach of children. Do not keep expired medications.

4 Precautions to Take

Before using Lipitor, there are some precautions you must take.

Your doctor will be checking you regularly to monitor the effectiveness of the medication. Blood tests may be ordered for undesirable effects.

Contraceptives must be used to keep you or your partner from getting pregnant. Tell your doctor immediately if you think you have become pregnant while using this medication.

This medicine may cause immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy. Check with your doctor if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness.

This medicine may cause kidney problems. Check with your doctor if you have dark-colored urine, fever, muscle cramps or spasms, muscle pain or stiffness, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may cause liver damage. Check with your doctor if you have a headache, stomach pain, vomiting, dark-colored urine, loss of appetite, weight loss, general feeling of tiredness or weakness, light-colored stools, upper right stomach pain, or yellow eyes or skin.

Tell your doctor first that you are using this medication before undergoing any medical procedures. Do not take any other medication without discussing it first with your doctor.

5 Potential Side Effects

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Lipitor.

If any of the following side effects occur, consult with your doctor right away:

  • Cough
  • Difficulty with swallowing
  • Dizziness
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Fever
  • Hives
  • Itching
  • Muscle cramps, pain, stiffness, swelling, or weakness
  • Puffiness or Swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  • Skin rash
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Unusual tiredness or weakness
  • Wheezing
  • Blistering, Peeling or Loosening of the skin
  • Chills
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Diarrhea
  • Joint pain
  • Large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
  • Red skin lesions, often with a purple center sore
  • Red, irritated eyes
  • Sore Throat
  • Sores, Ulcers, or White spots in the mouth or on the lips

Less serious side effects:

  • Headache
  • Hoarseness
  • Lower back or side pain
  • Pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
  • Painful or difficult urination
  • Stuffy or a runny nose
  • Abdominal or stomach pain
  • Back pain
  • Belching or Excessive gas
  • Constipation
  • General feeling of discomfort or illness
  • Heartburn, Indigestion, or Stomach discomfort
  • Lack or Loss of strength
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Shivering
  • Sweating
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Vomiting
  • Appetite increased
  • Black, Tarry stools
  • Bloody nose
  • Bloody or Cloudy urine
  • Blurred vision
  • Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
  • Difficult, Burning, or Painful urination
  • Difficulty seeing at night
  • Excessive muscle tone or tension
  • Fruit-like breath odor
  • Groin or Scrotum pain
  • Inability to have or keep an erection
  • Increased body movements
  • Increased sensitivity of the eyes to light
  • Increased sensitivity to touch or pain
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination
  • Loss of bladder control
  • Loss of sexual ability, drives, or desire
  • Menstrual bleeding occurring earlier or lasting longer than usual
  • Mental depression
  • Nervousness
  • Nightmares
  • Pale skin
  • Paranoia
  • Pinpoint red spots on the skin
  • Slurred speech
  • Swollen or Tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
  • Unable to move or feel face
  • Unusual bleeding or bruising
  • Weight loss

Not all side effects are listed above. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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