atorvostatin definition

Atorvastatin is in a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or "statins."

Atorvastatin reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or !" and
triglycerides in the blood, while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density
lipoprotein, or H!".
Atorvastatin is used to treat high cholesterol, and to lower the ris# of stro#e, heart attac#,
or other heart co$plications in people with type % diabetes, coronary heart disease, or
other ris# factors.
Atorvastatin is used in adults and children who are at least &' years old.
Atorvastatin $ay also be used for purposes not listed in this $edication guide.
See also: Atorvastatin( Are Generic !rugs )orth the *is#+
Important information
,ou should not ta#e atorvastatin if you are allergic to it, if you are pregnant or breast-
feeding, or if you have liver disease. -top ta#ing atorvastatin and tell your doctor right
away if you beco$e pregnant.
.efore ta#ing atorvastatin, tell your doctor if you have a thyroid disorder, $uscle pain or
wea#ness, a history of liver or #idney disease, or if you drin# $ore than % alcoholic
beverages daily.
/n rare cases, atorvastatin can cause a condition that results in the brea#down of s#eletal
$uscle tissue, leading to #idney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have
une0plained $uscle pain, tenderness, or wea#ness especially if you also have fever,
unusual tiredness, and dar# colored urine.
Grapefruit and grapefruit 1uice can react adversely with over 23 prescription $edications.
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Atorvastatin will not be as effective
in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.
Avoid drin#ing alcohol. /t can raise triglyceride levels and $ay increase your ris# of liver
da$age.
4here are $any other drugs that can increase your ris# of serious $edical proble$s if you
ta#e the$ together with atorvastatin. 4ell your doctor about all $edications you use. 4his
includes prescription, over-the-counter, vita$in, and herbal products. !o not start a new
$edication without telling your doctor. 5eep a list of all your $edicines and show it to
any healthcare provider who treats you.
Atorvastatin is only part of a co$plete progra$ of treat$ent that also includes diet,
e0ercise, and weight control. 6ollow your diet, $edication, and e0ercise routines very
closely.
Before taking this medicine
,ou should not ta#e atorvastatin if you are allergic to it, if you are pregnant or breast-
feeding, or if you have liver disease.
4o $a#e sure you can safely ta#e atorvastatin, tell your doctor if you have any of these
other conditions(
history of liver disease7
history of #idney disease7
$uscle pain or wea#ness7
a thyroid disorder7 or
if you drin# $ore than % alcoholic beverages daily.
/n rare cases, atorvastatin can cause a condition that results in the brea#down of s#eletal
$uscle tissue, leading to #idney failure. 4his condition $ay be $ore li#ely to occur in
older adults and in people who have #idney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidis$
(underactive thyroid".
4ell your doctor about all other $edications you use. Certain other drugs can increase
your ris# of serious $uscle proble$s, and it is very i$portant that your doctor #nows if
you are using any of the$(
diltia8e$ (Cardi8e$, Cartia, !ilacor, !iltia, !ilt8ac, 4a8tia, 4ia8ac"7
ge$fibro8il (opid", fenofibric acid (6ibricor, 4rilipi0", or fenofibrate (Antara,
6enoglide, ipofen, ofibra, 4ricor, 4riglide"7
telaprevir (/ncive#"7
antibiotics such as clarithro$ycin (.ia0in" or erythro$ycin (9.9.-., 9ry:ed, 9ry-
4ab, 9rythrocin, :edia8ole"7
antifungal $edicines such as flucona8ole (!iflucan", itracona8ole (-porano0",
#etocona8ole (;i8oral", or voricona8ole (<fend"7
=H/< $edications such as darunavir (:re0ista", fosa$prenavir (e0iva", ritonavir
(;orvir", lopinavir>ritonavir (5aletra", nelfinavir (<iracept", sa?uinavir (/nvirase",
or tipranavir (Aptivus"7
$edicines that contain niacin (Advicor, ;iaspan, ;iacor, -i$cor, -lo-;iacin, and
others"7 or
drugs that wea#en your i$$une syste$, such as steroids, cancer $edicine, or
$edicines used to prevent organ transplant re1ection, such as cyclosporine
(Gengraf, ;eoral, -andi$$une", siroli$us (*apa$une", or tacroli$us (:rograf".
6!A pregnancy category @. Atorvastatin can har$ an unborn baby or cause birth defects.
!o not ta#e atorvastatin if you are pregnant. -top ta#ing this $edication and tell your
doctor right away if you beco$e pregnant. Ase effective birth control to avoid pregnancy
while you are ta#ing atorvastatin. Atorvastatin $ay pass into breast $il# and could har$
a nursing baby. !o not breast-feed while you are ta#ing atorvastatin.
"4a#e atorvastatin e0actly as prescribed by your doctor. !o not ta#e in larger or s$aller
a$ounts or for longer than reco$$ended. 6ollow the directions on your prescription
label. !o not brea# an atorvastatin tablet unless your doctor has told you.
Atorvastatin is usually ta#en once a day, with or without food. 4a#e the $edicine at the
sa$e ti$e each day. ,our doctor $ay occasionally change your dose to $a#e sure you
get the best results.
,ou $ay need to stop using atorvastatin for a short ti$e if you have(
uncontrolled sei8ures7
an electrolyte i$balance (such as high or low potassiu$ levels in your blood"7
severely low blood pressure7
a severe infection or illness7 or
surgery or a $edical e$ergency.
4o be sure this $edicine is helping your condition and is not causing har$ful effects,
your blood will need to be tested often. <isit your doctor regularly.
Atorvastatin is only part of a co$plete progra$ of treat$ent that also includes diet,
e0ercise, and weight control. 6ollow your diet, $edication, and e0ercise routines very
closely. ,ou $ay need to ta#e atorvastatin on a long-ter$ basis for the treat$ent of high
cholesterol. -tore at roo$ te$perature away fro$ $oisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
4a#e the $issed dose as soon as you re$e$ber. -#ip the $issed dose if your ne0t dose is
less than &% hours away. !o not ta#e e0tra $edicine to $a#e up the $issed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
-ee# e$ergency $edical attention or call the :oison Help line at &-2''-%%%-&%%%.
What should I avoid?
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Atorvastatin will not be as effective
in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.
Avoid drin#ing alcohol. /t can raise triglyceride levels and $ay increase your ris# of liver
da$age.
Grapefruit and grapefruit 1uice $ay interact with atorvastatin and lead to potentially
dangerous effects. !iscuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.
atorvastatin( hives7 difficulty breathing7 swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. -top
ta#ing atorvastatin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side
effects(
une0plained $uscle pain, tenderness, or wea#ness7
confusion, $e$ory proble$s7
fever, unusual tiredness, and dar# colored urine7
swelling, weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all7
increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry $outh, fruity breath odor,
drowsiness, dry s#in, blurred vision, weight loss7 or
nausea, upper sto$ach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dar# urine, clay-colored
stools, 1aundice (yellowing of the s#in or eyes".
ess serious atorvastatin side effects $ay include(
$ild $uscle pain7
diarrhea7 or
$ild nausea.
4his is not a co$plete list of side effects and others $ay occur. Call your doctor for
$edical advice about side effects. ,ou $ay report side effects to 6!A at &-2''-6!A-
&'22.
See also: -ide effects (in $ore detail"
Atorvastatin dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease:
/nitial dose( &' $g to 2' $g orally once a day.
4he initial dosage of atorvastatin reco$$ended for this patient in the prevention of
cardiovascular disease is &' $g to 2' $g orally once a day. Atorvastatin $ay be
ad$inistered at any ti$e of the day without regard for $eals.
!ose ad1ust$ents should be $ade at intervals of % to B wee#s.
-tudies have de$onstrated that treat$ent with atorvastatin is associated with significant
reductions in the ris# of cardiovascular endpoints and stro#e in various patient
populations for both pri$ary and secondary prevention.
6or pri$ary prevention, atorvastatin treat$ent was effective in hypertensive patients with
nor$al or $ildly elevated cholesterol levels as well as in patients with type // diabetes.
:atients had relatively low cholesterol levels at baseline in both trials7 however, treat$ent
with atorvastatin still resulted in significant reductions in cardiovascular outco$es and
stro#e.
6or secondary prevention, intensive lipid lowering therapy with atorvastatin 2' $g>day
was associated with significant incre$ental clinical benefit beyond therapy with &'
$g>day in patients with stable coronary heart disease. /t was also shown to significantly
reduce the ris# of clinical outco$es in coronary heart disease patients versus usual
$edical care.
Usual Atorvastatin Adult Dose for !perlipidemia:
/nitial dose( &', %' or B' $g orally once a day. 4he B' $g starting dose is reco$$ended
for patients who re?uire a reduction in !-cholesterol of $ore than B3C.
!ose ad1ust$ents should be $ade at intervals of % to B wee#s.
Maintenance dose( &' to 2' $g orally once a day.
Usual Pediatric Dose for etero"!gous #amilial !percholesterolemia:
&' to &D years(
&' $g per day ($a0 dose is %' $g per day". Ad1ust$ents should be $ade at intervals of B
wee#s or $ore.
What other drugs $ill affect atorvastatin?
Many drugs can interact with atorvastatin. .elow is 1ust a partial list. 4ell your doctor if
you are using(
birth control pills7
ci$etidine (4aga$et"7
conivaptan (<aprisol"7
i$atinib (Gleevec"7
isonia8id (for treating tuberculosis"7
spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldacta8ide"7
an antibiotic such as dalfopristin>?uinupristin (-ynercid", rifa$pin (*ifater,
*ifadin, *ifa$ate", telithro$ycin (5ete#", and others7
an antidepressant such as nefa8odone7
heart or blood pressure $edication such as digo0in (ano0in", diltia8e$ (Cartia,
Cardi8e$", nicardipine (Cardene", ?uinidine (Euin-G", verapa$il (Calan, Covera,
/soptin, <erelan", and others7
H/<>A/!- $edicine such as ata8anavir (*eyata8", delavirdine (*escriptor",
efaviren8 (-ustiva, Atripla", indinavir (Cri0ivan", and others7 or
any other "statin" $edication such as a$lodipine and atorvastatin (Caduet",
fluvastatin (escol", lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor", pravastatin (:ravachol",
rosuvastatin (Crestor", or si$vastatin (Focor, -i$cor, <ytorin".
4his list is not co$plete and there are $any other drugs that can increase your ris# of
serious $edical proble$s if you ta#e the$ together with atorvastatin. 4ell your doctor
about all $edications you use. 4his includes prescription, over-the-counter, vita$in, and
herbal products. !o not start a new $edication without telling your doctor.