Lipitor

Lipitor information

Lipitor is a popular heart medication drug that is also known as Atorvastatin. It belongs to a class of medicines that are called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors. Studies have shown that this type of medicine is proven to reduce blood cholesterol levels, including the ‘bad cholesterol’ type known as LDL, and Triglycerides which are a type of fatty acid found in saturated fats. It may also help in the prevention of hardening of the arteries, also known as Atherosclerosis. Use of Lipitor may help to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.

When is Lipitor prescribed?

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) is a popular medicine that is widely prescribed to patients primarily as a treatment to prevent strokes and heart attacks by lowering the body’s production of LDL Cholesterol. However, this medication might also be used for some other purposes that have not been listed here. You should ask your doctor for more information.

What is the most important fact about Lipitor?

It is very important that your physician is aware of your current general medical condition before you start a treatment with this medicine (or with any other type of medications). Patients who are suffering from any type of liver disease or chronic muscular disease, may not be prescribed this medicine. This may also apply to anyone suffering from alcohol-related problems or those who have recently undergone major surgery. You should always ask your personal physician if it is safe to start taking Lipitor.

What factors should I discuss with my Health Care Provider?

If you are suffering from liver disease, extra precautions are required when taking this medication. Your Doctor may not recommend the use of Lipitor or may prescribe a lower dose of the drug in this case. Your treatment may be closely monitored to check that Atorvastatin does not have a detrimental effect on your liver condition.

How should I take Lipitor?

Lipitor is usually taken once per day. it is important that you try to take your doses at the same time each day. Your physician will calculate the correct dose of Lipitor for your condition. Do not make any alterations to the dose of this medicine that you have been prescribed without your physician’s approval. You should take this drug exactly how your doctor has prescribed it for your particular condition. You can find more information on the medicine’s label. If you have any queries about the doctor’s instructions, you should contact a pharmacist, a nurse or a doctor and ask them to explain them to you. Each dose of Lipitor should be taken with a full glass of water. If you have an easily irritable stomach, you should take this medicine with food, or milk.

Lipitor and Pregnancy

This medicine is a category X FDA pregnancy medicine. Therefore a treatment with the drug during pregnancy can harm the growing fetus, causing potentially dangerous birth defects. If you are pregnant, or if you think that you might become pregnant any time soon, you should ask your doctor if you should avoid taking this medicine. It has not been clearly determined whether this medicine’s main ingredients are able to pass into breast milk or not. If you are breastfeeding a baby, you should ask your personal healthcare provider if you may start taking this drug. This medicine (Lipitor) is known to harmfully interact with grape and / or grapefruit juice (such a combination might trigger some severe and dangerous allergic reactions and side effects). You must not start taking Lipator if you are allergic to this medicine or to any of its main ingredients

Side Effects of Lipitor

When taking Lipator there is a possibility that you may experience one or more of the following side effects:-

• liver or muscle problems
• muscle tenderness, pain, weakness
• flu-like symptoms
• fever
• allergic reactions such as swelling, hives and difficulty in breathing, blurred vision, etc.

Other side effects can also occur during your treatment so you should inform your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms during your treatment with Lipitor.

Overdose instructions for Lipitor

If you suspect that you are suffering from an overdose of Lipator, you should contact your local poison control center and your doctor as soon as possible

Missed Dose instructions

A missed dose of Lipitor is unlikely to cause dangerous effects. If you miss one of your prescribed doses of this medicine, you should skip it and proceed with your next scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose without your physician’s approval.

Lipitor Drug Reactions

You should avoid taking any of the following medicines while being treated with Lipitor:-

• Gemfibrozil,
• fenofibrate or clofibrate
• Cyclosporine
• Erythromycin
• clarithromycin
• Niacin
• Hormonal birth control pills
• Cholestyramine or colestipol
• Antifungal drugs such as fluconazole, itraconazole, or ketoconazole