General Info: Uses and Effects

Lipitor Generic (Atorvastatin) belongs to a group of lipid lowering pharmaceutics, known as statins or reductase inhibitors. This drug is highly effective in reducing bad cholesterol and fats such as low density lipoproteins (LDL) in the blood. It effectively reduces the risk of angina, heart attacks, and strokes and slows down the progression of cardiovascular diseases. Recently, statins have shown pleiotropic effects like anti inflammation, decreased oxidative stress, and bone stimulation that help in chronic periodontal disease and kidney failure. They may also work to improve cerebral blood flow and are a promising option for Alzheimer's disease.

Lipitor blocks the action of an enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme (HMG CoA) reductase that is critical for endogenous cholesterol generation and LDL clearance by the liver. Excess of cholesterol and triglyceride production can block the blood vessels leading to fatal outcomes. Therapeutic doses can reduce cholesterol production by 20-50% and the LDL lowering effects peak at 1-2 weeks of therapy/ dosing.

Contraindication: Important to Know

Let your doctor know if you have a history of liver, kidney or thyroid diseases, muscle pain or weakness, or if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily. Inform your physician about all current medications including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start to use a new medicine without consulting your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and do not withhold information about potential drug or alcohol addiction.

You should not take Lipitor if you have experienced an allergic reaction to it or its congeners, such as Fluvastatin, Simvastatin, or Lovastatin, as this may be life threatening and requires hospitalization.

Lipitor Atorvastatin is a FDA pregnancy category X drug that can harm an unborn baby or cause miscarriages and major birth defects. As soon as pregnancy is recognized, Lipitor should be ceased. If a woman is pregnant or she becomes pregnant while taking the medicine, she should consult her doctor immediately. Use effective birth control to avoid pregnancy while you are taking this medicine. Lipitor Generic may pass into breast milk and could harm nursing babies, hence do not breast feed.

Consuming oranges, grapefruits, or drinking more than 1.2l of grapefruit juice could turn statins into health hazards as furanocoumarins found in these food groups can lead to higher levels of statin drugs in the bloodstream and potentially cause toxicity.

Instructions on Taking

Always thoroughly follow the exact instructions given by your doctor mentioned on the prescription label. Do not titrate, adjust the dose, or stop the medicine on your own. You may be subjected to routine blood checks for assessment of cholesterol levels so as to fine tune the dosage of Atorvastatin. Lipitor alone cannot mitigate the disease and has to be supplemented with a low fat diet, exercise regimen, and lifestyle modifications.

Although all statins are administered at bed time to obtain maximum effectiveness, Lipitor Atorvastatin can be consumed at any time of the day because its half life is longer than its counterparts and lasts for 18-24 hrs. Absorption is generally enhanced by food, but it does not matter whether you take Lipitor before, after, or during the meal. It can be taken without food as well. The tablets should be taken in their intact form, whether chewable or to be swallowed with a glass of water. Never take two doses at the same time. In case if you miss a dose, do not worry, take it upon remembering. If it has been more than 12 hours since you missed your last dose, do not take the medicine. Instead, take the subsequent dosage at the regular time. It is strictly forbidden to overdose. Inform your physician at the earliest in case of overdosing and seek emergency medical attention. The tablets can be stored at room temperature but take care to keep these out of children's reach.

Dosage

Determining the accurate dose of Lipitor Atorvastatin to be administered is based on multiple risk calculators, such as age, diabetes, blood pressure, body mass index, history of smoking, cholesterol levels in blood etc. The drug potency is dosage-related, meaning that a higher dose will inhibit more cholesterol. A single dosage in the range of 10-80mg may be prescribed for adults, and the usual starting dose is 10-20mg daily. The adults who need more than a 45% reduction in LDL cholesterol may be started at 40mg daily. Under the supervision of the treating physician, dosages may be increased gradually, which should not be more than once every two to four weeks,

Use in children with a familial history of dyslipidemia and hypercholesterolemia is restricted to selected patients. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a statin therapy for patients < 8 years of age when they present with higher persistent LDL concentrations, while the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommends that drug therapy should not be initiated until children are at least 10 years of age (after menarche for females). Pediatric patients can receive 10mg once daily up to a maximum dose of 20mg daily. They may be in the form of disintegrating oral tablets or extended release formulations.

Side Effects

Serious side effects when taking Atorvastatin are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people. The undesirable adverse effects of taking Lipitor include:

• Tenderness or weakness with unexplained muscle pain and cramps. Statins can cause inflammation of the muscles that can lead to serious breakdown of muscle cells called rhabdomyolysis;
• Confusion and memory impairment (amnesia);
• Fever;
• Fatigue and unusual tiredness, drowsiness;
• Dark colored urine; decreased or increased urination;
• Swelling in extremities, joint pain (arthralgia);
• Weight gain;
• Increased thirst and hunger or loss of appetite;
• Dry mouth;
• Fruity breath odor, dry skin, blurred vision;
• Nausea, upper stomach pain (sig of pancreatic issues);
• Itching;
• Clay-colored stools;
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).

Other side effects that may bother you and don't go away are diarrhea, urinary tract infection, blocked nose, nosebleeds, a skin rash with pink-red blotches, etc. Continuos monitoring and liver tests should be performed at the beginning of treatment and at regular intervals. Call your doctor for medical advice about adverse effects.

There is always a possibility to have serious allergic reactions to Atorvastatin, which require an emergency. Contact a physician immediately if you have a serious allergic reaction with the following warning signs:

• Skin rash that may include red, itchy, swollen, peeling, or blistered skin;
• Wheezing, having trouble breathing or talking;
• Tightness in the throat or chest;
• Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat;
• Hyperactivity and aggression.

Interaction with Other Drugs

Lipitor Atorvastatin taken along with other co-administered drugs can increase your risk of serious medical problems. For this reason, you should inform your doctor about any medication you are currently on, since it may interfere with therapeutic effects of Lipitor. Antibiotics such as Clarithromycin or Erythromycin, antifungal medicines, HIV protease inhibitors, fibrates, medicines that contain niacin, or drugs that weaken your immune system, such as steroids, cyclosporine, colchicine, or strong CYP 3A4 inhibitors, can increase the concentrations of Lipitor leading to myopathy. Rifampin increases breakdown of Atorvastatin. To reduce the likelihood of this interaction, both drugs should be given at the same time.