A person at high risk is also less likely to need stents or bypass surgery when they take this drug. People who are at risk for coronary heart disease may benefit from taking Lipitor. Lipitor can also help people with an abnormal lipid profile and those with type 2 diabetes who have cardiac risk factors.
Muscle pains and cramps are more likely when a person first starts taking Lipitor or when they increase their dosage. People who are 65 years of age or older may be more at risk of this side effect than younger adults. Sometimes, doctors will notice that people experiencing muscle pains with Lipitor also have high levels of a liver protein called creatine phosphokinase. If this is the case, they will monitor the levels of this protein while decreasing the dosage of Lipitor. They may choose to replace Lipitor with another cholesterol lowering drug.
Doctors will perform liver function tests before prescribing Lipitor, as it can affect the results of these tests. After taking the drug for at least 6 weeks, doctors will recheck the liver to make sure that the drug has not caused any significant changes to the liver function.
If the person has elevated test results, the doctor will check their blood at more frequent intervals until the measures normalize. Sometimes, the doctor may need to lower the dosage of Lipitor or stop this treatment altogether. Research has linked Lipitor to a serious muscle condition called rhabdomyolysis , which can cause kidney failure. If this occurs, doctors will stop the drug and provide the individual with plenty of fluids to prevent kidney failure.
People who have kidney disease or take certain other medications alongside Lipitor may be more at risk of developing rhabdomyolysis. Doctors diagnose rhabdomyolysis by checking the blood levels of creatine phosphokinase. Most experts agree that a number five times the normal limit can confirm a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis.
Statins and other cholesterol lowering medications can affect the function of the liver. At higher dosages, the risk of liver function test abnormalities increases. In rare cases, people have experienced fatal and nonfatal liver failure as a result of taking statins. Women who are pregnant, wish to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding should not take Lipitor.
There is not enough evidence to confirm that Lipitor is safe or effective during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If a woman becomes pregnant while taking Lipitor, the doctor will stop the medication and replace it with another cholesterol lowering medication. Doctors will not usually prescribe Lipitor to anyone with active liver disease, but in some situations, the benefits of taking Lipitor may outweigh the risks. People with chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis or nonalcoholic liver disease, may still take Lipitor.
Lipitor can interact with some other drugs to increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis. Birth control pills and grapefruit juice can also affect how Lipitor works. Are statins good or bad for you? Ultimately, it depends on your risk factors and your health status. Having high cholesterol puts you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Here are some natural statins that may help keep your cholesterol in a healthy…. Statins are a class of prescription drugs that help to lower high cholesterol.
While they can be effective, there are also side effects and other…. Grapefruit can affect how fast some drugs — like statins — are absorbed into the bloodstream. These include many drugs used to treat blood vessel and…. Taking your statin medication at a certain time of day can make the medication more effective. Learn why you should take some statins at night. Statins are prescription drugs used to lower cholesterol.
However, they can have side effects and might not be right for everyone. Learn about…. High triglycerides can have many causes, including genetics. When it's an inherited condition, it's known as familial hypertriglyceridemia. HDL cholesterol removes extra cholesterol and plaque buildup in your arteries.
High cholesterol often has no symptoms, but can lead to serious health issues. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Statins are widely used. Lipitor chewable tablets contain a substance called aspartame - check with your doctor before taking these if you have phenylketonuria a rare inherited disorder of protein metabolism.
Take atorvastatin once a day. You can choose to take it at any time, as long as you stick to the same time every day. Sometimes doctors may recommend taking it in the evening.
This is because your body makes most cholesterol at night. If you're not sure when to take your medicine, ask a pharmacist or your doctor for advice. Atorvastatin doesn't upset the stomach, so you can take it with or without food.
Swallow atorvastatin tablets whole with a glass of water. If you've been given chewable tablets, you can chew them or swallow them whole with a glass of water. In children, the usual dose is 10mg to 20mg once a day. Your doctor will use your child's age to work out the amount of atorvastatin that's right for them.
Your dose depends on the reason for taking it, your cholesterol levels , and what other medicines you're taking. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you're unsure how much to take. Don't reduce your dose without talking to your doctor first. If you occasionally forget to take a dose, take your next dose the next day at the usual time. Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take extra doses. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.
You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you're worried or take more than 1 extra dose.
Like all medicines, atorvastatin can cause side effects in some people - and different statins affect people in different ways. One rare but serious side effect is unexplained muscle aches and pains , tenderness or weakness. This can happen a few weeks or months after you first start taking this medicine.
Talk to your doctor or a pharmacist if side effects are bothering you. They may recommend trying an alternative statin. These common side effects of atorvastatin happen in more than 1 in people. Some side effects may improve after the first few days, as your body gets used to the medicine. Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:. Report any unexplained muscle aches and pains, tenderness or weakness to a doctor straight away.
Less than 1 in people may have some memory loss. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if this side effect bothers you. It usually goes away after you stop taking the medicine. Serious side effects when taking atorvastatin are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to atorvastatin.
These are not all the side effects of atorvastatin. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. Atorvastatin isn't recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as there's no firm evidence it's safe.
Talk to your doctor if you want to get pregnant. It's best to stop taking atorvastatin at least 3 months before you start trying for a baby.
If you become pregnant while taking atorvastatin, stop taking the medicine and tell your doctor. It's not known if atorvastatin gets into breast milk, but it may cause problems for your baby. Speak to your doctor about what's best for you and your baby while you're breastfeeding. It may be possible to delay starting or restarting atorvastatin until you've stopped breastfeeding completely.
Some medicines affect the way atorvastatin works and can increase the risk of serious side effects. If you're taking atorvastatin and need to take one of these medicines, your doctor may:. These are not all the medicines that can interfere with atorvastatin.
For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet or check with your pharmacist. St John's wort, a herbal medicine taken for depression , reduces the amount of atorvastatin in your blood, so it doesn't work as well. Talk to your doctor if you're thinking about starting St John's wort, as it will change how well atorvastatin works. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.
Atorvastatin acts on the liver to stop it making cholesterol. This lowers your blood cholesterol level. For the first 12 months on this medicine, you'll be offered a couple of routine tests to make sure your liver is working normally.
Your cholesterol levels should drop noticeably within 4 weeks - if you take your medicine regularly, as prescribed. Usually, treatment with a statin such as atorvastatin is for life. The benefits will only continue for as long as you take it. If you stop taking atorvastatin without starting a different treatment, your cholesterol level may rise again. You may have read negative stories about statins, but they're thought to be very safe, effective medicines.
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