Lipitor
Lipitor is a medicine that helps lower high levels of cholesterol and other fats in your blood, especially when diet and lifestyle changes aren't enough, and it can also reduce your risk of heart problems.
How to Use
Dosage
The usual starting dose for adults and children 10 years and older is 10 mg once a day; your doctor may slowly increase the dose every 4 weeks or more until you reach the right dose.
Method
Swallow Lipitor tablets whole with water. You can take them at any time of day, with or without food, but try to take them at the same time each day.
The highest daily dose of Lipitor is 80 mg, taken once a day.
Possible Side Effects
- •Runny nose, sore throat, or nosebleeds.
- •Allergic reactions.
- •Higher blood sugar levels (monitor if diabetic) and increased muscle enzyme levels.
- •Headache.
- •Nausea, constipation, gas, indigestion, or diarrhea.
- •Joint pain, muscle pain, or back pain.
- •Abnormal results in liver function tests.
- •Loss of appetite, weight gain, or lower blood sugar (monitor if diabetic).
- •Nightmares or trouble sleeping.
- •Dizziness, tingling or numbness, reduced sensation, taste changes, or memory loss.
- •Blurred vision.
- •Ringing in the ears or head.
- •Vomiting, burping, upper or lower stomach pain, or pancreas inflammation.
- •Liver inflammation.
- •Rash, itching, hives, or hair loss.
- •Neck pain or tired muscles.
- •Tiredness, feeling unwell, weakness, chest pain, swelling (especially in ankles), or fever.
- •White blood cells found in urine test.
- •Vision problems (not just blurred).
- •Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).
- •Tendon injury.
- •Skin rash or mouth sores that look like lichen (lichenoid drug reaction).
- •Purple skin spots caused by blood vessel inflammation (purpura).
- •Hearing loss.
- •Breast enlargement in men (gynecomastia).
- •A condition that resembles lupus, with symptoms like rash, joint problems, and blood cell changes (Lupus-like syndrome).
Important Warnings
- Do not take Lipitor if you are allergic to atorvastatin or any of its ingredients.
- Do not take Lipitor if you have or have had liver disease or abnormal liver blood tests that your doctor cannot explain.
- Do not take Lipitor if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are a woman who can have children and are not using reliable birth control.
- Do not take Lipitor if you are breastfeeding.
- Do not take Lipitor if you are taking glecaprevir/pibrentasvir to treat Hepatitis C.
Show 6 more warnings
- Do not drink more than 1-2 small glasses of grapefruit juice daily, as large amounts can change how Lipitor works.
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol while taking Lipitor.
- Stop taking Lipitor and get medical help right away if you have a severe allergic reaction (like swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe).
- Stop taking Lipitor and get medical help right away if you get a severe skin reaction (like severe peeling skin, swelling, blisters on your skin, mouth, eyes, or private parts, with a fever, or pink-red, possibly blistering, rashes on your hands or feet).
- Stop taking Lipitor and get medical help right away if you have muscle weakness, tenderness, pain, tearing, or reddish-brown urine, especially if you also feel unwell or have a high fever. This could be a sign of serious muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), which can be dangerous and harm your kidneys.
- If you notice unexpected bleeding or bruising, tell your doctor as soon as possible, as this could be a sign of a liver problem.
Use in Elderly Patients
Suitable for older adults. Possible adverse effects include muscle pain and muscular weakness. Consider potential interactions. Avoid grapefruit. (updated 17.4.2023)