ORIGINAL USES (ON-LABEL)
Cardiovascular disease in high-risk patients; hyperlipidemias by reducing total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides; homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
BRAND NAME Lipitor
DRUG CLASS
Anti-lipid (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor)
DESCRIPTION
Atorvastatin inhibits an enzyme that your body uses in the production of cholesterol.
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
Headache, chest pain, peripheral edema, insomnia, dizziness, rash, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, urinary tract infection, increases in liver function tests, muscle aches, arthritis, back pain, sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, runny nose, infection, flu-like syndrome.
CAUTIONS
Do not use this drug if you have active liver disease or if you have high levels of liver function tests.
You should not consume large amounts of alcohol or have a history of liver disease if you want to use this drug.
Your liver function should be monitored periodically during therapy.
This drug can also cause severe muscles aches which are a symptom of a more serious disorder in which the muscle fibers break down. If this disorder progresses, decreases in kidney function may also occur. This risk is increased with concurrent use of drugs that increase atorvastatin levels.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Azole antifungals, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, diclofenac, doxycycline, erythromycin, imatinib, isoniazid, nefazodone, nicardipine, propofol, protease inhibitors, quinidine, and verapamil. Cyclosporine, clofibrate, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, levothyroxine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, cholestyramine, and niacin.
This drug is metabolized by a specific set of liver enzymes. Several other drugs interfere with these liver enzymes, and thus, may increase or decrease the clearance of atorvastatin from the body, potentially increasing the risk of side effects or decreasing effectiveness.
When these drugs are given in combination with atorvastatin, dosage adjustments may be needed. As these are too numerous to list, you should always check with your doctor or pharmacist prior to starting a new medication, herbal, or nonprescription product.
FOOD INTERACTIONS
Grapefruit juice (greater than or equal to 1 quart/day) may increase toxicity.
HERBAL INTERACTIONS
St. John’s wort
PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING CAUTIONS
FDA Pregnancy Risk Category X. Atorvastatin should not be used during breast-feeding.
SPECIAL INFORMATION
Before initiation of therapy with this drug, you should be placed on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet for six weeks and the diet should be continued during drug therapy. Report any signs of muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to your doctor.
