Lipitor

Atorvastatin

Drug Class and Mechanism of Action of Lipitor

Lipitor is the name of the drug to be taken orally. It is intended to decrease the blood cholesterol level. The medication belongs to the statins drug class. This class also includes such drugs as lovastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin and etc. Any type of the statins medications disables cholesterol production in the human liver. It is prevented by blocking enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) – that usually produces cholesterol. Furthermore all statins decrease the cholesterol level in the whole body, even so called LDL cholesterol (that is “bad” cholesterol). Lipitor as well as other statins decreases the LDL cholesterol level and may stop and reverse the coronary artery disease that is commonly caused by this “bad” cholesterol type. As for the “good” cholesterol (HDL). It is also reduced by the any of the statins named above.

Theurapetic Uses of Lipitor

The medication is applied to treat the increased cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides level as well as to increase HDL cholesterol. The higher dose of the medication decreases the cholesterol level more than the lower dose.

This medication is also intended to prevent such diseases as angina, heart attack, stroke. It also decreases the possibility of the myocardial infarction, stroke, angina as well as revascularization procedures in those patients experiencing high risks of coronary artery disease development. The Lipitor also prevents such conditions as heart attacks and strokes in those patients experiencing diabet of the 2 type with high risks for coronary artery disease development.

Direction of Use of Lipitor

The drug should be taken orally one time a day no matter with or without food. However your doctor may direct you another dose schedule. The medication should be better taken in the evening. The drug dose should be adequate to your medical condition and conform the total therapy as well as other drugs interactions.

The medication should be taken regularly at the same time to get the best effect. However you may need 4 weeks for the effect to become apparent. Do not stop the treatment even in case you condition improved.

Dose of Lipitor, if Missed

The medication should be taken once a day. Commonly the initial dose is 10-20mg daily, and the maximal possible dose shouldn’t increase 80 mg daily. Those patients requiring more than 45% LDL reduction may start the treatment with the 40 mg daily dose. It is possible to take the medication before, within as well as after the meal and any time within the day.

In case you have missed the dose of the Lipitor then skip it and take the next dose according to your dosage schedule. Avoid taking two dosages at once.

How to Store Lipitor

The medication should be kept at the temperature between 20°-25°C (68°-77°F).

More Information About Lipitor

Lipitor should be taken only by those patients having prescription. Do not give the medication to the third persons. Consult your doctor in case you condition worsens or you have any questions about the Lipitor and its usage.

Precautions to be Taken While Taking Lipitor

Below are the medication the Lipitor may interact with the drug below and cause muscle injury: erythromycin (E-Mycin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), clarithromycin (Biaxin), telithromycin (Ketek), cyclosporine (Sandimmune), nefazodone (Serzone), and HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan) and ritonavir (Norvir). Amiodarone (Cordarone), verapamil (Calan Verelan, Isoptin), cyclosporine (Sandimmune), niacin (Niacor, Niaspan, Slo-Niacin), gemfibrozil (Lopid) and fenofibrate (Tricor) also may contribute to the increased risk of muscle toxicity when uased along with Lipitor.

The medication should not be prescribed along with warfarin and digoxin, otherwise these patients are to be monitored thoroughly.

In case the Lipitor is combined with Cholestyramine treatment it should be taken in 2 hours before or 4 hours after the use of Cholestyramine.

Several medical conditions can react with Lipitor thus consult your health care provider in case experience one of the conditions below:

Pregnancy.
Planning to become pregnant.
Breast-feeding period.

Furthermore, the patients taking Lipitor should not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit as these products may increase certain medications level in your blood.

In case you have any question or something in the drug usage remains unclear to you – consult your doctor.

Possible Adverse Effects of Lipitor

The medication commonly causes no side effects. However the patients taking it may experience: constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, gas, heartburn, headache, liver and muscle damage.
Any statins may cause abnormalities of the liver tests, thus it is advised to monitor the blood liver tests within the Lipitor therapy.
The use of the drug may cause muscles inflammation that in its turn lead to the breakdown of the muscles cells. So, in case you experience muscle pain, weakness or muscle tenderness – consult your doctor immediately to prevent the muscles cells breakdown.

Illness

Comments

14:00 09/03/10 hi, I need an advice. Please let me know if lipitor may bring some muscle damage? And does lipitor cause weight gain? The matter is I wanted to use this drug but my doctor ifromed me about these possible lipitor side effects. And furthermore, what about lipitor vs niacin or certain comparison of lipitor and zocor? Maybe these drugs would be a good substitution?
02:38 02/03/10 Hi, can you compare crestor and lipitor cholesterol drugs? The matter is I experience lipitor side-effects and don't know whether I should stop taking lipitor or take lipitor half dosage. Maybe it is better ti use another medication?
15:46 20/02/10 Hello, my doctor prescribed me lipitor, but previously I took zocor. So can you say something about lipitor vs zocor? Wat is lipitor dosage? Is it possible to purchase cheap lipitor? What are the lipitor side effects? In other words I need as much info about this drug as it possble. Thanks all.
12:57 15/02/10 hi, can anyone tell the generic name for lipitor? The matter is this is effective medication for me but I can't find it anywhere. By the way had annyone experienced lipitor body jerking or other side effects of lipitor?
10:12 08/02/10 hello, does anyone experienced lipitor unusual side effects? I don't mean lipitor muscle weakness or serious side effects caused by lipitor and alcohol intake. I'm using this drug for a long period of time but have read recently that there might be ome unusual side effects. That's the reason of my asking about lipitor dangers.
12:34 02/02/10 Hello, I take lipitor for a certain period of time and really suppose it is quite a good drug. Anyhow I'm not going to stop using lipitor at the moment. At least until any side effects of lipitor drugs will reveal.
02:40 28/01/10 Hi, my doctor said lipitor is quite efficient drug. So can you tell me lipitor instructions side effects? Is there any correspondense between lipitor and muscle pain? When the one should stop taking lipitor? I'll be glad to get your answers. Thanks a lot.