What is Lipitor Used for?
Lipitor/Atorvastatin is used in combination with diet changes to lower blood cholesterol levels in patients with high cholesterol levels. It is also used to treat patients with high lipid levels.
How should Lipitor be stored?
Store Tablet at controlled room temperature (between 68 and 77 degrees F).
General Information
How should I take Lipitor?
How much medicine you take and how often you take it depends on many factors, including the condition being treated, your age, and weight. If you have any questions about the amount and/or frequency of the medicine you are taking, talk with your health care provider. Carefully read the patient leaflet provided with this medicine and reread it each time you get this prescription refilled. Take this medicine exactly as prescribed by your health care provider. Carefully follow the diet, exercise, and weight reduction programs given to you by your health care provider while you are taking this medicine. This medicine may be taken with or without food. Report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially if it is accompanied with fever or general body discomfort. This medicine may cause dizziness. Use caution while driving or performing other tasks that require mental alertness, coordination or dexterity. Lab tests may be required to monitor therapy. Be sure to keep appointments. Patients with previous medical conditions should talk with their doctor before taking this medicine. Do not stop taking this medication without checking with your doctor. Do not take any over-the-counter or prescription medications without talking with your health care provider. This includes any herbal preparations or dietary supplements. Do not take more medicine than prescribed unless advised to do so by your doctor or health care provider. Contact your health care provider at once if you feel you have taken too much of this medicine. If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible. If several hours have passed or if it is nearing time for the next dose, do not double the dose to catch up, unless advised by your doctor. If more than one dose is missed, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
When should Lipitor not be taken?
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any ingredient in this medicine you have active liver disease you have persistent high liver enzyme levels of unknown cause you are pregnant or breastfeeding
What precautions should I follow when taking Lipitor?
Before using this medicine, tell your health care provider about any of the following: if you are planning to become pregnant if you are taking any prescription medicine, nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement if you have a history of liver disease if you consume 3 or more alcoholic beverages per day if you have any other medical condition
What special warning(s) should I be aware of when taking Lipitor?
This medicine has been ocassionally known to cause liver and muscle tissue damage, so be sure to inform your health care provider immediately if you notice any unexplained muscle tenderness, weakness, or pain, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. The patient should be placed on a diet, at least an equivalent to the American Heart Association (AHA) step 1, before receiving this medicine and should continue on this diet during treatment with this medicine. If appropriate, a program of weight control and physical exercise should be implemented.
What are the side effects of Lipitor?
Most severe: Yellowing of the skin or eyes; allergic reaction (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); muscle aches or weakness, especially with general body discomfort or fever.
Most common: Infection (fever, chills, sore throat); headache; flu syndrome; stomach pain; back pain; weakness; constipation; diarrhea; indigestion; gas; sinus inflammation; rash; muscle aches; chest pain; nausea; bronchitis; runny nose; sleeplessness; dizziness; arthritis; urinary tract infection; swelling of the hands and feet.
Other: Muscle cramps, myositis, myopathy, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy, pancreatitis, hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, anorexia, vomiting, alopecia, pruritus, rash, impotence, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
