Why is Lipitor prescribed?

Lipitor is a cholesterol-lowering drug. Your doctor may prescribe it along with a special diet if your blood cholesterol or triglyceride level is high and you have been unable to lower your readings by diet alone. The drug works by helping to clear harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol out of the blood and by limiting the body's ability to form new LDL cholesterol.

Your doctor may prescribe Lipitor to reduce your chances of having a heart attack or developing heart disease if you have any of the following risk factors:

• Are age 55 years or older.
• Smoke.
• Have high blood pressure.
• Have low levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein--the good cholesterol).
• Have a family history of early heart disease.

For people at high risk of heart disease, the doctor may suggest a cholesterol-lowering medication if LDL readings are 130 or more. For those at low risk, a medication is considered at readings of 190 or more.

How should I take this medicine?

Overdosage

Although no specific information about Lipitor (Atorvastatin) overdose is available, any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose of Lipitor, seek medical attention.

Warning!

• The manufacturer has not studied the effect of this medicine in children aged under 10 years, or in girls who have not yet started their periods. The medicine is not recommended for children under ten years of age. The long-term effects of the medicine in children aged 10 to 18 years have not been studied.
  
  
• You will need to have blood tests to monitor your liver function (liver function tests) before starting treatment and regularly throughout treatment with this medicine.
  
  
• This medicine may very rarely have side effects on the muscles. For this reason you should inform your doctor immediately if you experience any muscular symptoms such as or weakness while taking this medicine, cramps, tenderness, pain, particularly if it is accompanied by a fever or feeling generally unwell. Your doctor may need to check for side effects on the muscles by taking a blood test to measure the level of a compound called creatinine kinase in your blood. If this is the case, the test should not be done following strenuous exercise.
  
  
• You should avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. This is because grapefruit juice can affect the metabolism of atorvastatin and could increase the amount of the medicine in your blood, thus increasing the risk of side effects.
  
  
• It is recommended that you avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol while taking this medicine.
  
  
• You should should continue eating a cholesterol-lowering diet during treatment with this medicine. Discuss this with your doctor.
  
  

How should you take Lipitor (Atorvastatin)?

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) should be taken once a day, with or without food. You can take it in the morning or the evening, but should hold to the same time each day. The drug generally begins working within 2 weeks.

For an even greater cholesterol-lowering effect, your doctor may prescribe Lipitor (Atorvastatin) along with a different kind of lipid-lowering drug such as Questran or Colestid. It's important to avoid taking the two drugs at the same time of day. Take Lipitor at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after the other drug.