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Atorvastatin

 

Atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) Review

brand name: Lipitor
generic names: Atorvastatin calcium, Atorvastatin calcium trihydrate, Atorvastatin

What are atorvastatin tablets?

ATORVASTATIN (Lipitor®) reduces the body's ability to make cholesterol and thus lowers high cholesterol. It belongs to a group of drugs known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or 'statins'. The drug can also reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other complications in certain patients, such as those with type 2 diabetes or risk factors for heart disease. Cholesterol-lowering drugs are used along with a diet low in fat and cholesterol; additional lifestyle changes may be recommended. Generic atorvastatin tablets are not yet available.

Not to be used in

• Breastfeeding
  
  
• Pregnancy
  
  
• Unexplained raised results in liver function tests
  
  
• Active liver disease
  
  

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin)

If you take Lipitor (Atorvastatin) with certain other drugs, decreased, the effects of either could be increased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Lipitor with any of the following:

Antacids such as Maalox TC Suspension
Clofibrate (Atromid-S)
Colestipol (Colestid)
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Drugs that suppress the immune system
Erythromycin (E.E.S., Erythrocin, others)
Fenofibrate (Tricor)
Fluconazole (Diflucan)
Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Niacin (Niaspan, Niacor, Slo-Niacin)
Oral contraceptives

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.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking atorvastatin. Alcohol can raise triglyceride levels, and may also damage your liver while you are taking atorvastatin.

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.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•an alcohol problem
•any hormone disorder (such as diabetes, under-active thyroid)
•blood salt imbalance
•infection
•kidney disease
•liver disease
•low blood pressure
•muscle disorder or condition
•recent surgery
•seizures (convulsions)
•severe injury
•an unusual or allergic reaction to atorvastatin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding

How does it work?

Lipitor tablets contain the active ingredient atorvastatin, which is a type of medicine called a statin. It works by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver.

For the sake of simplicity, there are two sorts of cholesterol; a 'bad' sort called low density lipoprotein (LDL) and a 'good' sort called high density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is deposited in the arteries and increases the risk of heart disease by clogging and narrowing the arteries ( atherosclerosis ), while HDL actually protects the arteries against this.

Atorvastatin decreases the production of LDL cholesterol by blocking the action of the enzyme in the liver (called HMG-CoA reductase) that is responsible for its production. This decreases the amount of cholesterol in the liver cells, which causes them to take up LDL cholesterol from the blood. The decreased cholesterol production and increased removal of LDL cholesterol from the blood ultimately results in lowered blood cholesterol levels.

As the body produces most cholesterol at night, statins are generally more effective if taken at night.

Atorvastatin also causes a small decrease in the production of other 'bad fats' in the blood called triglycerides, and a small increase in the level of HDL cholesterol. This results in lowered levels of 'bad fats' and raised levels of 'good fats' in the blood.

Statins have an important role in the prevention of coronary heart disease. They reduce the risk of excess cholesterol being deposited in the major blood vessels of the heart. Any blockage in the blood vessels limits the amount of blood and therefore oxygen being carried to the heart muscle. This can cause chest pain ( angina ) and in severe cases can result in a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Statins also reduce the risk of stroke by decreasing the risk of excess cholesterol being deposited in the blood vessels leading to the brain. These fat deposits can cause blockage and therefore limit blood and oxygen supply to certain parts of the brain.

Atorvastatin is used to lower cholesterol and other bad fats in people who have high levels either due to genetics (familial hypercholesterolaemia) or as a result of diet and lifestyle. This helps to reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and the problems described above that this can cause.

Atorvastatin can also be used to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in people with diabetes, regardless of their cholesterol levels. It has been shown to reduce the risk of needing procedures to improve blood supply to the heart, such as a balloon dilation of an artery or a heart bypass graft. It also reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and death from heart disease.

It is important to continue to follow a cholesterol-lowering diet and exercise regime while taking atorvastatin. Discuss this with your doctor.