Atorvastatin ratiopharm
Atorvastatin ratiopharm is a statin medication used to lower high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, reducing the risk of heart disease.
Form
tabletti, kalvopäällysteinen
Strength
40 mg
Active Ingredient
Atorvastatin calcium
Manufacturer
Teva B.V.
How to Use
Dosage
The usual starting dose for adults and children aged 10 and older is 10 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase the dose if needed.
Method
Swallow the tablets whole with water, at any time of day, with or without food. Try to take your tablet at the same time each day.
Important
The maximum daily dose of Atorvastatin ratiopharm is 80 mg.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Nasal passage inflammation, sore throat, nosebleeds
- •Allergic reactions
- •Increased blood sugar levels (if you have diabetes, continue careful monitoring), increased creatine kinase levels in blood
- •Headache
- •Nausea, constipation, flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea
- •Joint pain, muscle pain, and back pain
- •Abnormal liver function test results
- •Loss of appetite, weight gain, decreased blood sugar levels (if you have diabetes, continue careful monitoring)
- •Nightmares, insomnia
- •Dizziness, numbness or tingling in fingers and toes, reduced sensitivity to pain or touch, altered taste sensation, memory loss
- •Blurred vision
- •Ringing in the ears and/or head
- •Vomiting, belching, upper and lower abdominal pain, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas causing stomach pain)
- •Hepatitis (liver inflammation)
- •Rash, itching, hives, hair loss
- •Neck pain, muscle fatigue
- •Fatigue, malaise, weakness, chest pain, swelling (especially in ankles), fever
- •Positive urine test for white blood cells
RARE
- •Severe allergic reaction causing swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, and difficulty breathing.
- •Severe skin reaction with peeling skin, swelling, blisters on the skin, mouth, eyes, and genitals, and fever.
- •Muscle weakness, tenderness, pain, or rupture, or reddish-brown urine, especially if you also feel unwell or have a high fever. These can be signs of rhabdomyolysis, a severe muscle breakdown that can be life-threatening and lead to kidney problems.
- •Visual disturbances
- •Unexpected bleeding and bruising
- •Cholestasis (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- •Tendon injury
- •Skin rash or mouth sores (lichenoid drug reaction)
- •Purple skin lesions (signs of blood vessel inflammation or vasculitis)
- •Liver problems that may cause unexpected bleeding or bruising.
- •Lupus-like syndrome (including rash, joint pain, and effects on blood cells).
- •Severe allergic reaction including sudden wheezing, chest pain or tightness, swelling of eyelids, face, lips, tongue, or throat, breathing difficulties, and collapse.
- •Hearing loss
- •Gynecomastia (enlargement of male breasts)
- •Persistent muscle weakness
- •Myasthenia gravis (a disease causing general muscle weakness, sometimes affecting breathing muscles)
- •Ocular myasthenia (a disease causing eye muscle weakness)
- •Sexual problems
- •Depression
- •Breathing problems, persistent cough and/or shortness of breath, or fever
- •Diabetes (more likely if you have high blood sugar and fat levels, are overweight, or have high blood pressure).
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to atorvastatin or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not use if you have or have ever had liver disease or unexplained abnormal liver test results.
- Do not use if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or a woman of childbearing age not using effective contraception.
- Do not use if you are taking glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for Hepatitis C.
- Talk to your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken fusidic acid (an antibiotic), as this combination can lead to severe muscle problems.
Show 9 more warnings
- Limit grapefruit juice to one or two small glasses per day, as large amounts can change how the medicine works.
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol while taking this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you have ongoing muscle weakness.
- If you are over 70 years old, your doctor may perform blood tests before and during treatment to assess the risk of muscle-related side effects.
- Talk to your doctor if you have kidney problems.
- Talk to your doctor if you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
- Talk to your doctor if you have had repeated or unexplained muscle aches or weakness, or if there is a family history of muscle problems.
- Talk to your doctor if you have myasthenia (general muscle weakness) or ocular myasthenia (eye muscle weakness), as statins can sometimes worsen these conditions or cause them to appear.
- Talk to your doctor if you have had a stroke with bleeding in the brain or have small fluid pockets in the brain from previous strokes.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category A
Suitable for older adults. Possible adverse effects include muscle pain and muscular weakness. Consider potential interactions. Avoid grapefruit. (updated 17.4.2023)