Drug Name

Lipitor (Atorvastatin)

Drug Uses

Lipitor is use with diet changes (restriction of cholesterol and fat intake) to decrease the amount of cholesterol and some fatty substances during your blood. Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a process aware as atherosclerosis) decreases bloodstream and, therefore, the oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats perhaps help to prophylaxis heart disease, angina (Breast hurt), strokes, and heart attacks.

How to use

Lipitor comes as a capsule to accept it orally. It is generally accept once daily with or without meal. To help you remember to accept Lipitor, taken it approximately the same time every day. Your doc can begin you on a low serving of Lipitor and gradually increase your dosage. Proceed to taken Lipitor even if you feel well. Not stop taken Lipitor without talking to your medico. Meal a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet

Drug Class and Mechanism

Atorvastatin is an oral tablet that lowers the level of cholesterol during the blood. It belongs to a class of pills referred to as statins which includes lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin, (Zocor), fluvastatin (Lescol), and pravastatin (Pravachol). All statins, incorporating atorvastatin, prophylaxis the manufacturing of cholesterol by the liver by blocking the enzyme that makes cholesterol, HMGCoA reductase. They lower full blood cholesterol likewise as LDL cholesterol levels. (LDL cholesterol is believed to be the "bad" cholesterol that is primarily responsible for the growth of coronary artery disease.) Lowering LDL cholesterol levels retards progression and possibly even reverse coronary artery disease. Unlike the other pellets during this class, atorvastatin likewise may decrease the concentration of triglycerides during the blood. High blood concentrations of triglycerides likewise have been associated with coronary artery disease. Atorvastatin was approved by the FDA during December of 1996.

Missed Dose

Taken the missed serving as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled serving, skip the missed serving and accept the next one as send. Not taken a double serving of this pellet unless otherwise send by your Dr..

Storage

Proceed this pill during the packaging it came during, tightly closed, and out of reach of babies. Kept it at room temperature and far from excess warmth and humidity (do not during the bathroom). Throw far any pill that is outdated or not longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist approximately the proper disposal of your drug.

Warnings/Precautions

Not accept Lipitor without first talking to your health care provider if you have liver disease. Until accept Lipitor, say your physician if you have a chronic muscular disease, require important surgery, or have a blood derangement. You can no be able to taken Lipitor, or you possibly require a dose adjustment or special monitoring in treatment if you have any of the terms listed above. Lipitor is during the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that Lipitor is aware to cause birth defects if it is accept in pregnancy. No taken Lipitor if you are pregnant or could get pregnant in treatment. It is do not aware whether Lipitor passes into chest milk. No taken this tablet without first talking to your Dr. if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Possible Side Effects

Although side actions from Lipitor are no common, they may happen. Say your medico if any of these symptoms are serious or not go far:

    * gas
    * belly ache or spasms
    * diarrhea
    * constipation
    * heartburn
    * headache
    * blurred vision
    * dizziness
    * eruption or itchiness
    * upset belly

If you experiment any of the following symptoms, call your physician instantly:

    * muscle ache
    * tenderness
    * muscle spasms or weakness with or without a fever.

More Information

Your pharmacist may provide most information approximately Lipitor.