Atorvastatin is a medicine that lowers the cholesterol. It works by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme in the body that is involved in the formation of cholesterol. As a result, it aids in the reduction of levels of blood cholesterol. It also lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Atorvastatin should be taken either with food or without food as advised by your doctor.
Take Atorvastatin precisely as directed by your doctor.
The dosage is determined by your health condition, age as well as your reaction to treatment.
Swallow the tablet with water.
Do not crush, chew or break the tablet.
Do not discontinue taking Atorvastatin without first consulting your doctor.
Expert Advice
Take with or without meals.
Take medicine at the same time each day.
Contact prescriber if unrelieved diarrhea (watery stools), fever, unusual muscle cramps, weakness, mood changes, memory changes, yellowing of skin or eyes, easy bruising or bleeding or unusual fatigue (weakness).
Take a missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it is likely the time of next dose. Do not double the dose.
Avoid high intake of grapefruit juice (>1 litre per day).
Take sufficient amounts of fluids (2-3 litres per day), unless restricted by the prescriber.
Laboratory tests are important during therapy.
Primary Uses
Hyperlipidemia
Indications
This medicine is used as an adjunct to diet in hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), heterozygous (genetic disorder characterized with markedly increased LDL and cholesterol )and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (a condition in which it is difficult to remove bad cholesterol from body), mixed hyperlipidemia (genetic disorder characterized with high lipids (fats), cholesterol and free fatty acids in blood).
Side Effects
Atorvastatin can cause GI upset, myalgia (muscle pain), arthralgia (pain in joints), headache, asthenia (abnormal weakness), insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), dizziness, paraesthesia (abnormal sensation of skin such as tingling, burning, chilling and numbness), hypoaesthesia (reduces sensation in one or more body parts), chest and back pain, pain extremities, epistaxis (bleeding from nose), muscle spasms, joint swelling, abnormal LFTs, raised creatinine kinase, ALT and CPK levels, hyperglycemia (high blood glucose), nasopharyngitis (swelling of nasal passages and back of throat, commonly known as cold) etc. Immune mediated necrotising myopathy (autoimmune muscle disease relatively severe proximal weakness) is also reported.
Warnings
Pregnancy
This medicine is contraindicated in pregnant females. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.
Lactation
Atorvastatin is not recommended for use by lactating females since it can have adverse effects on a nursing baby. Lactating females should consult their doctor before using Atorvastatin.
Driving
Drive vehicles with caution.
Liver
People with liver diseases should consult their doctors before using Atorvastatin.
Kidney
People with kidney diseases should consult their doctors before using Atorvastatin.
Alcohol
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Atorvastatin because it raises the risk of liver disease.
Precautions
Elderly patients and patients with a history of alcohol abuse or liver disease, renal (kidney) impairment, hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels in blood), history of muscle toxicity or muscle disorders are sensitive to the drug. Liver function tests should be performed before and during the therapy. Advice patients to report unusual muscle weakness or pain, maintain creatinine kinase levels, withdraw if liver > 5 x ULN. There may be a risk of Interstitial lung disease (inflammation and scarring of tissue that surrounds lung’s air sacs, blood vessels and airways); advice patients to report symptoms including dyspnea (difficulty in breathing), non-productive cough, fatigue (weakness), weight loss, fever. Risk of new onset of diabetes; risk factors include hypertension (high blood pressure), raised triglycerides, BMI and fasting glucose at baseline. There is risk of stroke and transient ischemic attack (a stroke that lasts for a few minutes in which blood supply to the part of brain is briefly stopped).
Contraindications
Atorvastatin is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to Escitalopram or other components present in this medicine.
Atorvastatin is metabolized in the liver. As a result, if you have pre-existing liver problems, this medication is not suggested since it may cause Atorvastatin accumulation in your blood, increasing the chance of side effects. It may possibly cause more liver damage.
FAQS
What should you monitor while taking Atorvastatin?
Serum triglycerides, cholesterol and LFTs should be evaluated before the start of therapy, and periodically thereafter.
How to store this medicine?
Please store the tablet form of this medicine at room temperature (18-25 Celsius).
Keep medicine away from excessive light and moisture.
Please keep it away from children.
What should you not take with Atorvastatin?
Avoid high cholesterol and high fat foods, excessive grapefruit or grapefruit juice and excess alcohol use.
What happens if you eat grapefruit while taking atorvastatin?
It contains a chemical that interferes with body ability to breakdown statin medications.
What should I do if I forget to take atorvastatin?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. But do not take if it has been more than 12 hours since the last dose.
Disclaimer
Dawaai's intention is to make sure that it's consumers get information that is accurate, reviewed by an expert and error-free. However, the information mentioned here should not be used as a replacement for the advice of a qualified physician. The information given here is for informational purposes only, which may not cover all possible precautions, side effects, contraindications or drug interactions. Consult your doctor and discuss your queries related to any medicine or disease.
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