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Lipitor, |atorvastatin

atorvastatin

Generic Name: atorvastatin (a TOR va sta tin)
Brand Names: Lipitor

What is atorvastatin?

Atorvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.

Atorvastatin reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries, conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.

Atorvastatin is used to treat high cholesterol. Atorvastatin is also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in people with coronary heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

Atorvastatin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about atorvastatin?

Before taking atorvastatin, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, underactive thyroid, kidney disease, a muscle disorder, or a blood disorder:

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Atorvastatin will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

There may be other drugs that can affect atorvastatin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking atorvastatin?

Before taking atorvastatin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• diabetes;

• underactive thyroid;

• kidney disease; or

• a muscle disorder.

• drink alcoholic beverages,

• have a chronic muscular disease,

• require major surgery, or

• have a blood disorder.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use atorvastatin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

How should I take atorvastatin?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Atorvastatin can be taken with or without food.

Atorvastatin is usually taken once a day. Try to take your dose at the same time each day. Follow your doctor"s instructions.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Atorvastatin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

You may need to take atorvastatin on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of atorvastatin is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

What should I avoid while taking atorvastatin?

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Atorvastatin will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with atorvastatin and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Atorvastatin side effects

• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever or flu symptoms and dark colored urine.

Keep taking atorvastatin and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• mild stomach pain, gas, bloating, stomach upset, heartburn;

• nausea, stomach pain or upset;

• constipation, bloating, gas;

• stuffy nose;

• itching, skin rash; or

• muscle pain.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect atorvastatin?

Before taking atorvastatin, talk to your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);

• digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

• erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);

• gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);

• niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);

• an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral); or

• HIV or AIDS medication such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use atorvastatin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect atorvastatin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has information about atorvastatin written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Atorvastatin is available with a prescription under the brand name Lipitor. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ("Multum") is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum"s drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum"s drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.