Atorvastatinأتورفاستاتين

Atorvastatin is a prescription statin-class medicine. It is sold under the brand name Lipitor and as generic products. It lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke in appropriate adults.

Atorvastatin works by blocking an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase, which the liver needs to produce cholesterol. This lowers the liver's own cholesterol production and prompts it to pull more cholesterol out of the bloodstream.

• Reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, procedures to restore blood flow to the heart, and angina in adults with several risk factors for coronary heart disease but no clinically evident heart disease
• Reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with type 2 diabetes
• Lowering LDL cholesterol, as an add-on to diet, in primary hyperlipidemia and familial hypercholesterolemia

• Usual adult starting dose: 10 mg to 20 mg once daily
• Dose range: 10 mg to 80 mg once daily; 80 mg is the maximum daily dose
• The dose is individualized and adjusted by the prescribing clinician

This is general product information, not an individual prescription. Your own doctor sets your dose.

• Taken by mouth once a day, with or without food, at any time of day
• Follow your clinician's instructions for timing and any changes

• Store at controlled room temperature, 20–25°C (68–77°F)

Frequencies from the prescribing information's trial data (atorvastatin vs placebo):

• Nasopharyngitis (nose and throat inflammation): 8.3% vs 8.2%
• Joint pain (arthralgia): 6.9% vs 6.5%
• Diarrhea: 6.8% vs 6.3%
• Urinary tract infection: 5.7% vs 5.6%
• Muscle pain (myalgia): 3.5% vs 3.1%
• Throat pain: 2.3% vs 2.1%

MedlinePlus also lists heartburn, gas, and memory problems among reported effects. Tell your doctor about any symptom that is bothersome or does not go away.

Seek emergency care for signs of a serious allergic reaction: difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or a rash that blisters, peels, or spreads. Serious skin reactions and severe allergic reactions have been reported with atorvastatin.

Rare cases of serious liver problems, including liver failure (some fatal), have been reported with statins, including atorvastatin. Liver enzyme testing is considered before starting and when clinically indicated afterwards. Seek medical care for yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine.

Statins, including atorvastatin, can rarely cause rhabdomyolysis, a serious breakdown of muscle that can lead to acute kidney injury. Rare deaths have been reported. Contact a doctor promptly for unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with fever, unusual tiredness, or dark urine.

• Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis
• Known hypersensitivity to atorvastatin or to any ingredient of the product

Not recommended with

• Cyclosporine
• Gemfibrozil

Do not exceed 20 mg of atorvastatin a day with

• Clarithromycin or itraconazole
• Saquinavir with ritonavir, darunavir with ritonavir, or fosamprenavir (with or without ritonavir)
• Elbasvir with grazoprevir, or letermovir

Do not exceed 40 mg of atorvastatin a day with

• Nelfinavir

Use with caution

• Colchicine: the prescriber should weigh the benefit against the higher risk of muscle damage
• Large amounts of grapefruit juice: avoid more than 1.2 litres a day

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, supplement, and herbal product you use.

Pregnancy: stop atorvastatin when pregnancy is recognised. Statins may cause fetal harm, based on how they work. Treatment for high cholesterol is generally not necessary during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding: the prescribing information says breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment.

If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking or continuing atorvastatin.

• Liver enzyme testing is considered before starting and when clinically indicated afterwards
• MedlinePlus advises telling your doctor if you drink more than two alcoholic drinks a day, and about any liver disease
• Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, since several can change how much atorvastatin your body is exposed to