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| Atorvastatin Information | Atorvastatin Dosage | Atorvastatin Side Effects | Atorvastatin Special Information | Buy Atorvastatin |
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| Buy Generic Atorvastatin 80 mg | |
| Category: Lipid Lowering Agent | |
| Contents: Atorvastatin | |
Atorvastatin, Atorvastatin is an oral drug that lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood. It belongs to a class of drugs referred to as statins, which includes Lovastatin (Mevacor), Simvastatin, (Zocor), Fluvastatin (Lescol), and Pravastatin (Pravachol).
The drug works by helping to clear harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol out of the blood and by limiting the body's ability to form new LDL cholesterol.
Your doctor may prescribe it along with a special diet if your blood cholesterol or triglyceride level is high enough to put you in danger of heart disease, and you have been unable to lower your readings by diet alone.
For people at high risk of heart disease, the doctor may suggest a cholesterol-lowering medication if LDL readings are 130 or more. For those at low risk, a medication is considered at readings of 190 or more.
Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. Lowering the blood level of cholesterol and fats may help to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attacks.
All about Atorvastatin
Drug Class: What is Atorvastatin and why is it prescribed?
Drug Mechanism: How does Atorvastatin work?
Dosage: How should you take Atorvastatin?
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Atorvastatin
Special information on Atorvastatin
Atorvastatin side effects
Drug Class: What is Atorvastatin and why is it prescribed?
Atorvastatin, Atorvastatin is an oral drug that lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood. It belongs to a class of drugs referred to as statins, which includes Lovastatin (Mevacor), Simvastatin, (Zocor), Fluvastatin (Lescol), and Pravastatin (Pravachol).
The drug works by helping to clear harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol out of the blood and by limiting the body's ability to form new LDL cholesterol.
Your doctor may prescribe it along with a special diet if your blood cholesterol or triglyceride level is high enough to put you in danger of heart disease, and you have been unable to lower your readings by diet alone.
For people at high risk of heart disease, the doctor may suggest a cholesterol-lowering medication if LDL readings are 130 or more. For those at low risk, a medication is considered at readings of 190 or more.
Drug Mechanism: How does Atorvastatin work?
Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. Lowering the blood level of cholesterol and fats may help to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attacks.
Like all statins, Atorvastatin blocks an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA Reductase, an enzyme that is necessary to make cholesterol.
When atorvastatin blocks this enzyme, less cholesterol is made, and the liver is more sensitive to remove cholesterol from the blood thus lowering total blood cholesterol levels as well as LDL cholesterol levels. (LDL cholesterol is believed to be the "bad" cholesterol that is primarily responsible for the development of coronary artery disease.) Lowering LDL cholesterol levels retards progression and may even reverse coronary artery disease.
Unlike the other drugs in this class, atorvastatin also can reduce the concentration of triglycerides in the blood. High blood concentrations of triglycerides also have been associated with coronary artery disease.
Atorvastatin was approved by the FDA in December of 1996.
Dosage: How should you take Atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin should be taken once a day, with or without food. You can take it in the morning or the evening, but should hold to the same time each day. The drug generally begins working within 2 weeks.
For an even greater cholesterol-lowering effect, your doctor may prescribe Atorvastatin along with a different kind of lipid-lowering drug such as Questran or Colestid. It's important to avoid taking the two drugs at the same time of day. Take Atorvastatin at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after the other drug.
You need to follow a standard cholesterol-lowering diet before starting Atorvastatin, and should continue following it throughout your therapy.
ADULTS
The recommended starting dose is 10 or 20 milligrams once a day. (The doctor may start with 40 milligrams daily if your LDL levels need to be reduced by more than 45 percent.) The doctor will check your cholesterol levels every 2 to 4 weeks and adjust the dose accordingly. The maximum recommended daily dose is 80 milligrams.
CHILDREN
Use in children is rare. The drug has never been prescribed for children under 9 years of age.
Overdose: Although no specific information about Atorvastatin overdose is available, any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose of Atorvastatin, seek medical attention.
If you miss a dose: Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.
Storage instructions: Store at room temperature.
Preparations: Tablets available 10mg, 20mg, 40mg, 80mg
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Atorvastatin
If you take Atorvastatin with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Atorvastatin with any of the following:
Special information on Atorvastatin
SSpecial information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Developing babies need plenty of cholesterol, so this cholesterol-lowering drug should never be used during pregnancy. In fact, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe Atorvastatin if there is even a chance that you may become pregnant. If you do conceive while taking this drug, notify your doctor right away.
Atorvastatin does make its way into breast milk, so you should not take the drug while breastfeeding your baby.
Most Important Fact about this Drug
Atorvastatin is usually prescribed only if diet, exercise, and weight loss fail to bring your cholesterol levels under control. It's important to remember that Atorvastatin is a supplement, not a substitute for those other measures. To get the full benefit of the medication, you need to stick to the diet and exercise program prescribed by your doctor. All these efforts to keep your cholesterol levels normal are important because they may lower your risk of heart disease.
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Atorvastatin. The side effects of Atorvastatin, if any develop are usually mild.
Side effects may include: Abdominal pain, abnormal heartbeat, accidental injury, acne, allergic reaction, amnesia, back pain, black stools, bleeding, breast enlargement, changes in eyesight, changes in taste sensation, chest pain, constipation, decreased sex drive, depression, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, distorted facial muscles, dizziness, dry eyes, fatigue, fever, flu symptoms, fluid retention, gas, hair loss, headache, hearing difficulties, heartburn, increased muscle movement, increased sensations, indigestion, inflammation of sinus and nasal passages, insomnia, itching, joint pain, lack of coordination, leg cramps, muscle aching or weakness, purple or red spots on the skin, rash, respiratory problems, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to light, skin irritations, sore throat, strange dreams, sweating, tingling of extremities, unstable emotions, urinary problems, vomiting, weakness, weight gain, weight loss.
WHY SHOULD THIS DRUG NOT BE PRESCRIBED?
Never take Atorvastatin during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. You should also avoid Atorvastatin if you have liver disease, or if the drug gives you an allergic reaction.
SPECIAL WARNINGS ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
There is a slight chance of liver damage from Atorvastatin, so your doctor may order a blood test to check your liver function before you start taking the drug, again 12 weeks after you begin therapy or your dosage is increased, and every 6 months thereafter. If the tests reveal a problem, you may have to stop using the drug.
Drugs like Atorvastatin have occasionally been known to damage muscle tissue, so be sure to tell your doctor immediately if you notice any unexplained muscle tenderness, weakness, or pain, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. Your doctor may want to do a blood test to check for signs of muscle damage.
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