Overview Of Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

Atorvastatin is a prescription medication primarily used for the treatment of high cholesterol. Patients take atorvastatin by mouth, and it is available in doses of ten, twenty, forty, and eighty milligrams. This medication must be taken daily, and it can be used by patients who are ten years old and older. While it is safe to take atorvastatin with or without food, patients should always take it at the same time each day. To reduce cholesterol as much as possible, patients are advised to follow a low-fat diet and to do regular physical activity during their treatment with atorvastatin. Regular blood tests may be necessary to monitor the patient's cholesterol levels, and many individuals will need to take atorvastatin for the rest of their lives.

The uses, side effects, precautions and medication interactions associated with atorvastatin are discussed below.

How It Works

Atorvastatin is part of a group of medicines known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Commonly referred to as statins, these medications work by blocking the action of the HMG-CoA enzyme. This enzyme is located in the liver, and it produces up to eighty percent of the total cholesterol in the body. By blocking the HMG-CoA enzyme, the body makes less cholesterol, and the liver also removes some of the cholesterol from the blood. These mechanisms lead to reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Compared to other statins, atorvastatin provides a more significant reduction in cholesterol at a lower dose. The medication can reduce cholesterol by as much as sixty percent, and it starts working within one to two hours. Patients who have just started taking atorvastatin can expect to see reductions in cholesterol after two to four weeks of treatment.

Reveal the uses and benefits of atorvastatin next.

Atorvastatin Uses And Benefits

Atorvastatin is used to reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol. It helps reduce triglycerides, and it has also been shown to increase levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the 'good' kind) in the blood. Doctors may prescribe this medicine to reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and cardiovascular complications in patients who have coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or other conditions that may increase the likelihood of a cardiac event. This medication could improve long-term outcomes for patients who have had a heart transplant, and it may reduce cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Current guidelines suggest atorvastatin should also be prescribed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients who have had a kidney transplant.

Continue reading to reveal the potential side effects of atorvastatin next.

Potential Side Effects

The most common side effects of atorvastatin are joint pain, confusion, memory issues, heartburn, and diarrhea. Patients might develop a cough or runny nose while taking atorvastatin, and headaches, lower back pain, and hoarseness are frequently reported as well. Some individuals who take atorvastatin could experience serious side effects. For example, muscle cramps may occur in the legs, and some patients might notice muscle weakness, stiffness or pain. Occasionally, this medicine could cause liver issues. Patients should be vigilant for the potential signs of liver damage, including dark-colored urine, jaundice, loss of appetite, fatigue and pain in the upper right part of the abdomen. Other less common potential side effects include stomach or back pain, nausea, sweating, constipation and sleep disturbances.

Patients should let their doctor know about any side effects that are bothersome, persistent, or severe. If potential signs of liver damage are present, individuals should make an urgent appointment with the prescribing physician. Patients should inform their doctor immediately if they have any unexplained muscle pain or weakness while taking atorvastatin. These symptoms could be indicative of myopathy or other serious muscle conditions.

Learn about the precautions to remember in regards to taking atorvastatin next.

Precautions To Remember

Before taking atorvastatin, patients should let their doctor know about any history of diabetes, kidney disease, liver issues, muscle pain, or thyroid disorders. Atorvastatin is not safe for use by patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Patients over sixty-five years old have a higher risk of experiencing muscle breakdown during treatment with this medication, and it may cause increases in blood glucose. Individuals with diabetes may need to have their diabetes medications adjusted, and they might be asked to monitor their blood sugar more frequently. Atorvastatin can affect the results of liver function tests, and it should not be used by patients with liver disease. Patients with kidney damage are at an elevated risk of muscle breakdown with this medicine, and they may need to be closely monitored by their doctor for signs of potential muscle issues.

All patients who take atorvastatin will need to avoid or limit grapefruit juice during treatment. The juice increases the amount of atorvastatin in the blood, and this could lead to muscle damage and an increase in side effects. Patients should ask their doctor about the amount of grapefruit juice that is safe for their overall health. Additionally, drinking more than two alcoholic beverages per day may increase a patient's risk of developing liver disease as a side effect of this medicine. Patients should let their doctor know about their alcohol consumption habits before starting treatment with this drug. Patients may need to temporarily discontinue atorvastatin if they develop seizures, severely low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances or serious infection. This medicine may also need to be discontinued before surgery or during a medical emergency.

Get the details on potential medication interactions with atorvastatin next.

Potential Medication Interactions

There are nearly three hundred potential medication interactions associated with atorvastatin. Using this medication with certain antibiotics, including clarithromycin, could increase the patient's risk of experiencing muscle issues during treatment. Patients who use ketoconazole or other antifungal medicines may need to take a lower dose of atorvastatin. If atorvastatin is taken with rifampin, the amount of atorvastatin in the body may be reduced, and the medication might not work properly. Atorvastatin should not be used with cyclosporine, and patients who take digoxin and atorvastatin will need to have their digoxin levels monitored regularly. Protease inhibitors used in the treatment of HIV could cause a dangerous accumulation of atorvastatin. If these medications must be used together, the doctor may lower the patient's atorvastatin dose.