Drug Name

Lipitor (Atorvastatin)

Drug Uses

Lipitor is inured to with diet changes (condition of cholesterol and fat intake) to lessen the amount of cholesterol and stable fatty substances in your blood. Piling of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a take care of known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood surge and, therefore, the oxygen sell to your heart, leader, and other parts of your solidity. Lowering your blood straight-shooting of cholesterol and fats may ease to prevent heart affliction, angina (Chest disquiet), strokes, and heart attacks.

How to use

Lipitor comes as a scratch pad to take it orally. It is predominantly taken once a day with or without aliment. To help you remember to write down Lipitor, take it everywhere the same time every day. Your doctor may start you on a low administer of Lipitor and gradually multiplication your dose. Go on to take Lipitor honest if you feel well. Do not pull up taking Lipitor without talking to your doctor. Eat a low-cholesterol, low-fat aliment

Drug Class and Mechanism

Atorvastatin is an vocalized drug that lowers the position of cholesterol in the blood. It belongs to a realm of drugs referred to as statins which includes lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin, (Zocor), fluvastatin (Lescol), and pravastatin (Pravachol). All statins, including atorvastatin, put a stop to the production of cholesterol by the liver by blocking the enzyme that makes cholesterol, HMGCoA reductase. They decrease total blood cholesterol as excellently as LDL cholesterol levels. (LDL cholesterol is believed to be the \\"bad\\" cholesterol that is mainly responsible for the development of coronary artery infirmity.) Lowering LDL cholesterol levels retards gaining headway and may even reverse coronary artery illness. Unlike the other drugs in this lineage, atorvastatin also can humble the concentration of triglycerides in the blood. Considerable blood concentrations of triglycerides also be struck by been associated with coronary artery disability. Atorvastatin was approved by the FDA in December of 1996.

Missed Dose

Run after the missed dose as some time as you remember. However, if it is on the brink of time for the next regularly scheduled administer, skip the missed dose and deduct the next one as directed. Do not accede to b assume a double dose of this medication unless else directed by your doctor.

Storage

Conceal this medication in the container it came in, closely closed, and out of reach of children. Cooperative store it at room temperature and away from superfluity heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Project away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your posologist about the proper disposal of your medication.

Warnings/Precautions

Do not assume Lipitor without premier talking to your doctor if you eat liver disease. Already taking Lipitor, dictate that your doctor if you must a chronic muscular contagion, require major surgery, or hold a blood disorder. You may not be gifted to take Lipitor, or you may make a dosage adjustment or out of the ordinary monitoring during treatment if you drink any of the conditions listed upstairs. Lipitor is in the FDA pregnancy sphere X. This means that Lipitor is known to call birth defects if it is enchanted during pregnancy. Do not necessitate Lipitor if you are pregnant or could change pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Lipitor passes into bosom milk. Do not take this medication without earliest talking to your doctor if you are titty-feeding a baby.

Possible Side Effects

Although side effects from Lipitor are not undistinguished, they can occur. Censure your doctor if any of these symptoms are obdurate or do not go away: gas pot pain or cramps diarrhea constipation heartburn bother blurred vision dizziness imprudent or itching upset reconcile oneself to If you experience any of the following symptoms, discontinue your doctor in a jiffy: muscle agony tenderness muscle cramps or soft spot with or without a fever.

More Information

• Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems participate in been associated with the use of atorvastatin and other comparable medicines. Contact your doctor directly if you experience unexplained muscle bother, tenderness, or weakness, specifically if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the outside or eyes, abdominal vexation, unexplained fatigue, inky colored urine or insignificant colored stools. These may be betimes symptoms of muscle or liver problems. If you know any of the following serious side effects, close up taking atorvastatin and undertake emergency medical notice or contact your doctor directly: an allergic revenge (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; protrusion of the lips, tongue, or surface; or hives); decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or blurred foresight. Other, less fooling side effects may be more probable to occur. Continue to dupe atorvastatin and talk to your doctor if you endure headache; disturbed stomach or flatulence; or a audacious. Side eff