Lipitor
Lipitor is a statin medicine that helps lower high levels of fats in your blood, like cholesterol and triglycerides, when diet and lifestyle changes are not enough.
Form
purutabletti
Strength
10 mg
Active Ingredient
Atorvastatin calcium trihydrate
Manufacturer
Upjohn EESV
How to Use
Dosage
The usual starting dose is 10 mg once a day for adults and children aged 10 years and older. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
Method
You can chew the tablets or swallow them whole with water. Take them at the same time each day, with or without food.
Important
The maximum daily dose is 80 mg once a day.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Nasal inflammation, sore throat, nosebleed
- •Allergic reactions
- •Increased blood sugar levels (if you have diabetes, carefully monitor your blood sugar), increased creatine kinase levels in the blood
- •Headache
- •Nausea, constipation, gas, indigestion, diarrhea
- •Joint pain, muscle pain, back pain
- •Abnormal liver function test results
RARE
- •Loss of appetite, weight gain, lower blood sugar levels (monitor if diabetic)
- •Nightmares, trouble sleeping
- •Dizziness, tingling or numbness in hands/feet, reduced feeling, taste changes, memory loss, blurred vision, ringing in ears
- •Vomiting, burping, stomach pain (upper and lower), inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis), liver inflammation (hepatitis)
- •Rash, itching, hives, hair loss
- •Neck pain, muscle fatigue, tendon injury, persistent muscle weakness, general muscle weakness, eye muscle weakness (Myasthenia gravis symptoms)
- •Tiredness, feeling unwell, weakness, chest pain, swelling (especially in ankles), fever, positive white blood cell test in urine
- •Unexpected bleeding or bruising
- •Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- •Possible skin rash or mouth sores (lichenoid drug reaction), purple skin lesions (blood vessel inflammation)
- •Severe allergic reaction with sudden wheezing, chest pain, swelling of eyelids, face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, fainting
- •Hearing loss
- •Breast enlargement in men (gynecomastia)
- •Sexual problems (reported for some statins)
- •Depression (reported for some statins)
- •Breathing problems (like cough or shortness of breath) or fever (reported for some statins)
- •Diabetes (more likely if you have high blood sugar, high blood fats, are overweight, or have high blood pressure) (reported for some statins)
Important Warnings
- Do not take Lipitor if you are allergic to atorvastatin or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not take Lipitor if you have or have had liver disease, or abnormal liver blood tests without a clear reason.
- Do not take Lipitor if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. Women who can get pregnant must use reliable birth control.
- Do not take Lipitor if you are taking glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (a medicine for Hepatitis C).
- Tell your doctor if you are taking fusidic acid (an antibiotic), as you may need to stop Lipitor temporarily to avoid serious muscle problems.
Show 5 more warnings
- Stop taking Lipitor and get help right away if you have swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing. This is a severe allergic reaction.
- Stop taking Lipitor and get help right away if you have severe skin peeling, swelling, or blisters on your skin, mouth, eyes, or genitals, along with fever.
- Stop taking Lipitor and get help right away if you have muscle weakness, pain, tenderness, or reddish-brown urine, especially with fever or feeling unwell. This could be serious muscle breakdown.
- Do not drink more than one or two small glasses of grapefruit juice per day, as it can change how Lipitor works.
- Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol while taking this medicine.
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)