Lipitor
Generic Name:
Atorvastatin calcium
Brand Names:
Lipitor
Lipitor Description:
Marketed by Pfizer, Inc., Lipitor is a synthetic lipid-lowering drug used for the treatment of high cholesterol. Lipitor works by blocking the production of cholesterol in the body and minimizing the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, commonly referred to as “bad cholesterol,” in the blood.
Lipitor’s ability to reduce cholesterol also translates into its effectiveness in reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and numerous other heart complications in patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease or type 2 diabetes. Lipitor is comprised of atorvastatin calcium, used to block a cholesterol-producing enzyme found in the liver and also to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood.
Lipitor Side Effects:
Lipitor has been linked to other serious side effects including:
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Low fever
- Loss of appetite
- Dark urine
- Clay-colored stools
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
For more information, see our Lipitor side effects page.
Lipitor Uses:
Lipitor is primarily used to reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body. This translates into Lipitor being a desirable drug for use in preventing stroke, heart attack, and other heart complications due to elevated LDL cholesterol levels that can harden the walls of the arteries.
In adult patients (without clinically proven coronary heart disease who may be at risk from factors such as age, smoking, or family history), Lipitor is prescribed to patients to reduce the risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction), stroke (cerebrovascular accident), chest pain (angina), and revascularization procedures (including procedures that provide new blood supply as well as the augmentation of existing blood supplies).
Lipitor may also be prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in adult patients with type 2 diabetes without clinically proven coronary heart disease, as long as they are not at risk from factors such as retinopathy (a disease of the retina), albuminuria, smoking, or high blood pressure (hypertension).
In adult patients with clinically proven coronary heart disease, Lipitor is prescribed to patients in need of reducing the risk of non-fatal heart attack, fatal and non-fatal stroke, chest pain, revascularization procedures, and hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF).
Lipitor Interactions:
Lipitor may interact with the following medications:
- Oral contraceptives
- Digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
- Erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab)
- Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
- Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
- Fenofibrate (Tricor)
- Niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin)
- Antifungal medications
- Drugs that weaken your immune system such as cancer medications and steroids
- HIV or AIDS medications such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase).
Lipitor Dosage Information:
Typical Dosage Recommendation:
Lipitor comes in strengths of 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg tablets that are taken once daily. Dosage depends on condition being treated and goal of treatment.
Patients with hyperlipidemia and mixed dyslipidemia are prescribed 10 or 20 mg doses, once daily. When larger reductions in LDL-C are necessary, the starting dose can be as high as 40 mg. Dosage strength is typically adjusted within 2 to 4 weeks of initially taking the medication after lipid levels are analyzed.
Pediatric patients (10-17 years of age) with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia are prescribed 10 mg doses to be taken once daily. Adjustments in dosage are performed in 4 week intervals.
Patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia are prescribed 10 to 80 mg per day. For this group, Lipitor should be used in adjunct to other lipid-lowering medications.
In patients undergoing concomitant lipid-lowering therapy, Lipitor can be taken with bile acid resins.
Dosage in patients taking cyclosporine should be limited to 10 mg daily.
Dosage in patients taking clarithromycin, itraconazolem, or a combination of ritonavir plus saquinavir or lopinavir plus ritonavir, should not exceed 20 mg daily.
Missing a Dose:
If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule.
Overdosing:
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have overdosed; overdose does not produce life-threatening symptoms.
Lipitor FDA Approval:
December 17, 1996
Lipitor Recall/Black Box Warning Information:
There is currently no Black Box warning on Lipitor.
Counterfeit Warning
In May of 2003, there was a voluntary recall of Lipitor by the distributor in the U.S. due to three lots of counterfeit 90-count bottles being circulated. In the U.K. in 2005, Lipitor was recalled again due to counterfeits.
Sources:
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601517
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statins/CL00010
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-cholesterol/DS00178/tab=InDepth
- http://www.lipitor.com/content/index.aspx
- http://www.lipitor.com/about-lipitor/side-effects.aspx
- http://www.pfizer.com/files/products/uspi_lipitor.pdf
-
July 30, 2010, 2:23 pm
-
July 30, 2010, 2:13 pm
-
July 29, 2010, 12:33 pm
-
July 28, 2010, 3:58 pm
