Lipitor

Lipitor Information

Brand Name: Lipitor

Generic Name: Atorvastatin, Generic Lipitor

Other Common Names: Atorvastatina

Lipitor (atorvastatin) helps lower cholesterol or other fats in the blood (such as triglycerides). High levels of these fats can cause heart disease by clogging the blood vessels that feed blood and oxygen to the heart.

Lipitor belongs to the class of medicines known as HMG-Co A Reductase inhibitors. This class of drugs inhibits an enzyme in the liver, which is responsible for cholesterol metabolism in the body. Lipitor currently is the most potent per mg of the class.

Thus, Lipitor is effective in reducing low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides and other lipids/fats in the blood.

How To Take Lipitor and Lipitor Dosage and Administration

The tablets are available in 4 strengths: 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg.

Take your Lipitor as a single dose. It does not matter if you take it with food or without food, but you should not take it with grapefruit juice. Your doctor will usually tell you to take it in the evenings.

If you miss taking a pill, take it as soon as you can. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and just take the next dose. Don't take a double dose.

Never change the dosage unless your doctor tells you to.

Lipitor Side Effects

Lipitor Precautions and Contraindications

Consult your doctor before taking this drug, especially if:

You have liver disease.
You are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or think you might be pregnant. This medicine should not be used during pregnancy. If you get pregnant during treatment, you should stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor immediately.
You are breast-feeding your baby. This medicine may be present in your breast milk.
You have taken any of the following medicines before and you have had a reaction:
- Lipitor (atorvastatin)
- Zocor (simvastatin)
- Mevacor (lovastatin)
- Pravachol (pravastatin)
- Lescol (fluvastatin)
- Baycol (cerivastatin)

Also check Drug Interactions before taking Lipitor.

Please note that there is little experience with this medicine in adolescents (teenagers) and children.

Lipitor Drug Interactions

Consult your doctor before taking this drug if you are taking any other medicines, prescription or non-prescription, especially:

corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicines)
cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
gemfibrozil (Lopid)
fenofibrate (Lipidil Micro) or bezafibrate (Bezalip)
lipid-lowering doses of niacin (nicotinic acid)
erythromycin, clarithromycin or azole antifungal agents (ketoconazole or itraconazole)
nefazodone (Serzone)
indinavir sulfate (Crixivan), nelfinavir mesylate (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir mesylate (Invirase)
terfenadine

Lipitor Ingredients and Composition

Storing Lipitor

Keep Lipitor at room temperature (15 to 25°C) away from warm or damp places like the bathroom or kitchen.

Additional Notes

Don't drink too much alcohol while you are taking Lipitor. Talk to your doctor about how much is too much for you.