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About LipitorWhat is Lipitor?Lipitor is the brand name of the drug atorvastatin ( pronounced: a TORE va sta tin )Atorvastatin blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in your body. Atorvastatin is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. Atorvastatin is also used to increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood. These actions are important in reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Lipitor may also be used for purposes other than those listed here. How does Lipitor work?Lipitor, along with diet, lowers LDL, the "bad" cholesterol levels in the blood, by blocking an enzyme in the liver that your body uses to make cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can stick to the walls of your arteries and slow or clog the flow of blood. When less cholesterol is produced, the liver takes up more of it from the bloodstream. This results in lower levels circulating in your blood.If you have high cholesterol, lowering your LDL level is important for your good health. Lipitor also increases the level of HDL or "good" cholesterol in your blood. HDL cholesterol helps get rid of the extra LDL cholesterol. What side effects do users of Lipitor report?Continue to take atorvastatin and talk to your doctor if you experienceheadache upset stomach flatulence or a rash Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. Tell your doctor if you experienceAn allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);muscle aches, pain, or weakness; "flu-like" symptoms; decreased urine or rust-colored urine; blurred vision; or yellowing of your skin or eyes. If you experience any of these serious side effects, stop taking atorvastatin and seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor immediately: What are the symptoms of overdose or something gone wrong?Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if it is accompanied by a fever or flu-like symptoms or yellowing of your eyes or skin.The symptoms of an overdose of atorvastatin are not known. Seek emergency medical attention. Storing LipitorStore atorvastatin at room temperature away from moisture, heat and children, not in the bathroom.Conditions you should tell your Doctor about before taking Lipitor:liver diseasedrink alcoholic beverages chronic muscular disease have a blood disorder require major surgery You may not be able to take atorvastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the above conditions. Do not take atorvastatin if you are pregnant, if you are planning a pregnancy, or if you are breast-feeding a baby. Tell Your Doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)gemfibrozil (Lopid) niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Nicotinex, others) clarithromycin (Biaxin) erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Ilotycin, Eryc, PCE, Ilosone, others) fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Nizoral) The medications listed above interact with atorvastatin and may cause damage your muscles. Before taking atorvastatin, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid); or digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps). You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above. Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with atorvastatin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Things to avoid while taking LipitorGrapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with atorvastatin. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.To realize beneficial effects from atorvastatin, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods. Do not stop taking atorvastatin without first talking to your doctor. It may be weeks or months before beneficial effects are seen from this medication. Alcohol and atorvastatin can both damage your liver. Talk with your doctor about the amount of alcohol that you drink so that it can be determined if atorvastatin is the best choice for lowering your cholesterol. What happens if I miss a dose?Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.General Notes on LipitorAtorvastatin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that atorvastatinwill cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. Cholesterol is very important for the proper development of a baby. Do not take atorvastatin if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy. It is not known whether atorvastatin passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Eat a low-cholesterol diet. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Atorvastatin can be taken with or without food. Atorvastatin is usually taken once a day. Try to take your dose at the same time each day. Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with atorvastatin, at twelve weeks after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose, and periodically (every 6 months) thereafter. With the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require. Lipitor is available in four dogages; 10mg, 20mg, 40mg and 80mg pills. Common Misspellings for LipitorLipitor is often misspelled, as many people hear the word verbally, write it down and spell it incorrectly. Here are a few of the most common misspellings for Lipitor, lipttor, lipetor, lippator and lipator.Lipitor FeedbackRead comments by Lipitor users.Last post: 10/10/2009 If you find this page useful share it with others. If you have used Lipitor, use the form below to add your review of Lipitor, feedback or suggestions on how we can improve. Please note that all addresses are held confidential. Thanks for stopping by. AskDocWeb |
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| This website is protected by copyright © 2002-2007 Askdocweb, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This is a layman's report on Lipitor and is not intended to replace discussions with a health care provider. Do not use the information on this forum as a substitute for your doctor's advice. Always consult your doctor before taking any drug and follow your doctor's directions. Source material: United States Food and Drug Administration, Medline, Physician's Desk Reference, Universities and people just like you who are concerned about the side effect of health products. | |
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