Precautions
- 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
What are the dangers of taking atorvastatin?
Side effects requiring immediate medical attention
- Cough
- difficulty with swallowing
- dizziness
- fast heartbeat
- fever
- hives, itching, skin rash
- muscle cramps, pain, stiffness, swelling, or weakness
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- tightness in the chest
- unusual tiredness or weakness
What are the most common side effects of atorvastatin?
Three more points about JUPITER:
- (1) Data is discordant with the results available in the JUPITER papers published by peer-review medical journals.
- (2) Primary outcomes were changed in the registry history.
- (3) I could go on ...
Why is atorvastatin better than rosuvastatin?
What are some things I need to know or do while I take atorvastatin?
- Tell all of your health care providers that you take atorvastatin. ...
- If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your blood sugar closely.
- Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. ...
- Follow the diet and workout plan that your doctor told you about.
What should I know before taking atorvastatin?
What does atorvastatin do to the body?
Atorvastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body to decrease the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.
What are the most common side effects of atorvastatin?
Common Lipitor side effects are diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and changes in some blood tests, according to Pfizer Inc....Common Side Effects of LipitorCold-like symptoms.Joint pain.Diarrhea.Urinary tract infection.Stomach pain.Nausea.Muscle pain and spasms.Difficulty falling and staying asleep.
Is it better to take atorvastatin at night or day?
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. This prevents your blood levels from becoming too high or too low. Sometimes doctors may recommend taking it in the evening.
Do statins have any other benefits?
What are the benefits of statins? Scientific studies and years of use all over the world have proven that statins, when used as indicated, reduce a person's chances of having a heart attack or stroke; needing surgery, angioplasty, or stenting to improve blood flow in an artery; and dying from a heart attack.
What foods should be avoided when taking atorvastatin?
While taking atorvastatin (Lipitor), avoid high-fat and high-cholesterol foods as part of your overall treatment. You should avoid large quantities of grapefruit or grapefruit juice, which can increase the risk of serious side effects. Also, avoid excess alcohol use, as this may cause serious liver problems.
Does atorvastatin lower blood pressure?
Atorvastatin significantly reduced 24-h systolic and diastolic BP (DBP; median (range)) as compared with placebo (-5.0 (-21.0, 4.0) vs +1.0 (-6.0, 7.0) mm Hg, P<0.001 and -3.0 (-16.0, 2.0) vs +0.1 (-7, 4) mm Hg, P<0.01, respectively).
Does atorvastatin affect sleep?
The top-selling statins are atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor). How they can cause insomnia: The most common side effect of all types of statins is muscle pain, which can keep people who take them awake at night and unable to rest.
Does atorvastatin make you sleepy?
Atorvastatin oral tablet doesn't cause drowsiness, but it can cause other side effects.
Does atorvastatin cause weight gain?
Weight gain isn't a side effect of Lipitor. However, Lipitor belongs to a class of medications known as statins, which have been linked to weight gain. Some researchers have found that people who use statins tend to take in more calories than those who don't. This includes getting more calories from fat.
Can you stop taking statins Once you start?
Do not suddenly stop taking your prescribed medication without talking with your doctor first. If you have side effects from the medication, your doctor might adjust your dosage or recommend a different statin or other combination of medications.
Do statins clean out plaque?
A: Yes. There have been several clinical studies — many of them done here at Cleveland Clinic — that show statins can reverse plaque buildup. Two statins in particular, atorvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Lipitor, and rosuvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Crestor, are the strongest statins.
Does atorvastatin reduce inflammation?
Atorvastatin Effectively Suppressed Inflammation To illustrate the effect of atorvastatin on atherosclerotic inflammation, inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-18, in the blood serum of the ApoE-/- knockout mice were detected using an ELISA assay.
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use atorvastatin if you are allergic to it, or if you have: 1. liver disease; or 2. if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.Atorvastat...
How Should I Take Atorvastatin?
Take atorvastatin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your...
What Happens If I Miss A Dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if your next dose is less than 12 hours away. Do not take extra medicine to make...
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 c...
Atorvastatin Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to atorvastatin: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, ton...
Atorvastatin Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease:Initial dose: 10 mg to 80 mg orally once a day.The initial dosage recommended for the pre...
What Other Drugs Will Affect Atorvastatin?
Certain other drugs can increase your risk of serious muscle problems, and it is very important that your doctor knows if you are using any of them...
What is the best treatment for high cholesterol?
Atorvastatin is used to treat high cholesterol, and to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in people with type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors. Atorvastatin is used in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.
How long does it take for atorvastatin to work?
It may take up to 2 weeks before your cholesterol levels improve, and you may need regular blood tests. You may not notice any change in your symptoms, but keep using the medication as directed. Your blood work will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with atorvastatin.
What are the side effects of Atorvastatin?
joint pain; stuffy nose, sore throat; diarrhea; or. pain in your arms or legs. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Atorvastatin side effects (more detail)
What to do if you have a dark urine?
Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine. Also call your doctor at once if you have: muscle weakness in your hips, shoulders, neck, and back.
Does atorvastatin lower cholesterol?
Atorvastatin is used together with diet to lower blood levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL), to increase levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL), and to lower triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood). Atorvastatin is used to treat high cholesterol, and to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, ...
Does atorvastatin cause pain in the arms?
Common atorvastatin side effects may include: joint pain; stuffy nose, sore throat; diarrhea; or. pain in your arms or legs. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Can you drink more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day?
kidney disease; diabetes; a thyroid disorder; or. if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily. Atorvastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, potentially leading to kidney failure.
How to tell if atorvastatin is working?
How to tell if the drug is working: You won’t be able to feel atorvastatin working. Your doctor will measure your cholesterol levels to see how well atorvastatin is working for you. Your doctor may adjust your dosage depending on your cholesterol levels .
Why is atorvastatin used?
Why it’s used. Atorvastatin is used to improve cholesterol levels in people with different types of cholesterol problems. It’s also used to decrease your risk for heart attack and stroke. It’s used together with diet, weight loss, and exercise. Atorvastatin helps to prevent cholesterol from building up in your arteries.
What is the name of the drug that is used to lower cholesterol?
Brand name: Lipitor. Atorvastatin only comes in the form of a tablet you take by mouth. Atorvastatin oral tablet is used to improve cholesterol levels and decrease your risk for heart attack and stroke. It’s used together with diet, weight loss, and exercise.
What is the class of atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin belongs to a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.
How to avoid interactions with medications?
To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
What to do if you have serious side effects?
Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Can you take atorvastatin while breastfeeding?
For women who are breastfeeding: Atorvastatin should not be used during breastfeeding. If you breastfeed your child, talk to your doctor about what medication could be right for you. For seniors: People over the age of 65 years have a higher risk for muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) while taking atorvastatin.
How long after taking atorvastatin can you take cholestyramine?
If you also take certain other drugs to lower your cholesterol (bile acid-binding resins such as cholestyramine or colestipol ), take atorvastatin at least 1 hour before or at least 4 hours after taking these medications.
How does atorvastatin work?
It belongs to a group of drugs known as " statins .". It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver.
What medications interact with atorvastatin?
Some products that may interact with this drug include: daptomycin, gemfibrozil. Other medications can affect the removal of atorvastatin from your body, which may affect how atorvastatin works. Examples include cyclosporine, glecaprevir plus pibrentasvir, telaprevir, telithromycin, ritonavir, among others.
What to tell your doctor before taking a med?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, kidney disease, alcohol use. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
How long does it take for a triglyceride to work?
It is very important to continue to follow your doctor's advice about diet and exercise. It may take up to 4 weeks before you get the full benefit of this drug. Side Effects.
What to do if you miss a dose of triglyceride?
Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as blood cholesterol / triglyceride levels) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Missed Dose. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
Can atorvastatin cause memory problems?
A very small number of people taking atorvastatin may have mild memory problems or confusion . If these rare effects occur, talk to your doctor. Rarely, statins may cause or worsen diabetes. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks.
How does atorvastatin work?
Atorvastatin works by blocking an enzyme, called HMG-CoA reductase, in the liver that makes different types of lipids (this is the collective term for fats and cholesterol). Atorvastatin also boosts the breakdown of lipids. Atorvastatin belongs to the class of medicines known as statins.
How long does it take for atorvastatin to work?
Peak levels of atorvastatin are seen within one to two hours following administration; however, it may take one to two weeks of regular dosing before improvements in your cholesterol levels are seen, and up to four weeks before the maximal cholesterol-lowering effects of atorvastatin are apparent.
What medications interact with atorvastatin?
Common medications that may interact with atorvastatin include: amiodarone. antibiotics, such as erythromycin. antidepressants, such as nefazodone. antifungals, such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, or voriconazole. bezafibrate. calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine, diltiazem, or verapamil. colchicine.
What are some drugs that are lipid lowering?
other lipid-lowering drugs such as gemfibrozil and bezafibrate. strong CYP3A4 inducers such as efavirenz or rifampin. strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as clarithromycin or cyclosporine. warfarin. Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with atorvastatin.
Is atorvastatin generic?
Generic atorvastatin is available. 3. Downsides. If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include: Nasopharyngitis (swelling of the nasal passages and back of the throat), arthralgia (joint pain), diarrhea, dyspepsia, pain, ...
Can you take atorvastatin if you have kidney failure?
Seek urgent medical advice and consider temporarily withholding atorvastatin if you develop any acute muscle pain or have another condition that may increase your risk of serious muscle injury or kidne y failure such as a severe infection, major surgery, trauma, uncontrolled seizures, severe electrolyte or metabolic disorders.
Is atorvastatin a reductase inhibitor?
Atorvastatin is also known as an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. 2. Upsides. Atorvastatin, in conjunction with dietary measures, may be used for the treatment of high cholesterol in people at increased risk of cardiovascular disease if initial dietary measures fail to lower cholesterol.
What is the purpose of Lipitor 2021?
on July 13, 2021. Cholesterol-lowering statins such as Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) are among the most widely prescribed drugs on the market today. Their purpose is to lower blood cholesterol by reducing the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver, but they have several other effects.
What is AF in surgery?
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heartbeat that commonly occurs after heart surgery. This can lead to longer hospital stays or even strokes or heart failure. In a 2006 study, patients who were given a week-long course of statins before surgery had a 61% lower risk of AF.
Can you take statins if you have high cholesterol?
If you have high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe you a statin drug. Still, statins may not be appropriate for everyone, so talk with her about whether or not they are suitable in your case, why, and what your other treatment options might be.
Can statins prevent Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's Disease Protection by Statins Disproved. Some evidence indicates that statin therapy could inhibit the progression of Alzheimer's disease. In a 2007 study. A study published a year later, however, followed living patients over 12 years, found no significant difference in Alzheimer's rates between those who took statins ...
Does statin help with heart attack?
Like cholesterol, inflammation of the coronary arteries is one of the several factors that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key marker for this harmful inflammation, and statin use helps lower CRP levels.
Do statins help with HIV?
A 2004 Canadian study found that statins suppressed the attachment of the HIV virus to potential host cells.
Does statin lower blood pressure?
Statins May Lower Blood Pressure Slightly . Statin use also appears to decrease blood pressure, although just modestly, which is not significant enough to rival existing blood pressure medications. 2 .
What is the purpose of atorvastatin?
Descriptions. Atorvastatin is used together with a proper diet to lower cholesterol and triglyceride (fats) levels in the blood. This medicine may help prevent medical problems (eg, chest pain, heart attack, or stroke) that are caused by fats clogging the blood vessels. It may also be used to prevent certain types of heart ...
What is the name of the drug that blocks the enzyme that makes cholesterol?
Atorvastatin belongs to the group of medicines called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins. It works by blocking an enzyme that is needed by the body to make cholesterol, and this reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
What drugs interact with statins?
Some drugs that may interact with statins and increase your risk of side effects include: Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), a medication for irregular heart rhythms. Gemfibrozil (Lopid), another variety of cholesterol drug.
Can statins cause heart attacks?
Having too much cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes. Statins block a substance your liver needs to make cholesterol. This causes your liver to remove cholesterol from your blood. If you think you're experiencing side effects from statins, don't just stop taking the pills.
Does statin help with heart attack?
Sign up now. Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks. Statins are effective at lowering cholesterol and protecting against a heart attack and stroke, although they may lead to side effects for some people. By Mayo Clinic Staff.
Can you take a combination of statins and cholesterol?
Sometimes, taking a combination of cholesterol drugs can provide the same result with lower doses of statins. Try coenzyme Q10 supplements. Coenzyme Q10 supplements may help prevent statin side effects in some people, though more studies are needed to determine any benefits of taking it.
Can statins interact with other medications?
Talk to your doctor first to make sure the supplement won't interact with any of your other medications. Weigh the risks and benefits. Although side effects believed to be caused by statins can be annoying, consider the benefits of taking a statin before you decide to stop taking your medication.
Can statins cause liver damage?
While statins are highly effective and safe for most people, they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems and mental fuzziness in some people who take them and may rarely cause liver damage.
Does grapefruit juice interfere with statins?
Grapefruit juice contains a chemical that can interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) the statins in your digestive system.
What is PCSK9 inhibitor?
PCSK9 inhibitors. A gene called proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) determines the number of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in the body. These receptors then regulate how much LDL cholesterol goes into your bloodstream. PCSK9 drugs work by suppressing the PCSK9 enzyme expressed by the gene.
What is the best way to reduce cholesterol in the bloodstream?
Cholesterol absorption inhibitor . The small intestine absorbs your diet’s cholesterol and releases it into the bloodstream. A cholesterol absorption inhibitor helps to limit this absorption of the cholesterol you consume. Ezetimibe is one type of cholesterol absorption inhibitor.
What is statins used for?
What are statins? Statins are a class of prescription drugs that help to lower cholesterol. They block the enzyme that the body uses to make cholesterol in the liver. The liver, along with other cells in the body, makes about 75 percent of the body’s blood cholesterol. Trusted Source.
What are the risk factors for a stroke?
These groups are at high risk of having a stroke or heart attack: 1 people who have cardiovascular disease 2 people with elevated LDL levels 3 people with type 2 diabetes who are between 40 and 75 years old 4 people who have a higher 10-year risk of heart attack
What are the side effects of statins?
The side effects of statins. The most common side effects of statins include nausea, vomiting, and aches and pains in the muscles and joints. You may also have constipation, gas, or diarrhea. As your body adjusts to the medication, the side effects often go away . Some more serious side effects include: type 2 diabetes or higher blood sugar.
What happens if you have too much cholesterol?
But if you have too much cholesterol in your system, you can be at greater risk for heart disease and other vascular diseases. It can cause a buildup of plaque in the artery walls, which affects blood flow and can raise your risk for a heart attack.
How to lower cholesterol?
take multiple medications to lower your cholesterol. have a smaller body frame. have liver or kidney disease. consume too much alcohol. If you’re experiencing side effects, your doctor may want you to try another statin or change your dose, or try a different medication.
