Lipitor is a medication used for the treatment of high cholesterol and high triglycerides. This eMedTV article provides an overview of Lipitor, including information about how it works, when and how to take it, and its potential side effects.
For people taking Lipitor, side effects may include headaches, muscle pain, and diarrhea. This eMedTV resource describes side effects of Lipitor, which may also include joint pain, stomach pain, and constipation.
There are many side effects that may occur with Lipitor, and muscle pain is a relatively common one. This eMedTV article discusses Lipitor and muscle pain, including information about rare but serious muscle problems associated with the drug.
In those taking Lipitor, liver side effects may include hepatitis and jaundice. This eMedTV segment discusses possible liver-related side effects associated with taking Lipitor and explains how doctors monitor liver enzymes to help prevent them.
In clinical studies, joint pain was reported in up to in up to 5 percent of people taking Lipitor. This eMedTV Web page discusses Lipitor and joint pain, including suggestions for relieving the pain using medications, heating pads, and cold packs.
Memory loss is a rare side effect of Lipitor, occurring in less than 2 percent of people who take the drug. This eMedTV article discusses Lipitor and memory loss, and explains that it is often hard to know if such memory loss is caused by the drug.
Less than 1 percent of people taking Lipitor report experiencing weight gain as a side effect of the drug. This eMedTV resource looks at the relationship between Lipitor and weight gain, and provides suggestions for losing weight in a healthy way.
Diarrhea appears to be a common side effect of Lipitor. This eMedTV resource explores Lipitor and diarrhea, explaining that diarrhea is more common with higher Lipitor doses.
Lipitor uses include the treatment of high triglycerides and high cholesterol. As discussed in this eMedTV segment, Lipitor is also used to help prevent cardiovascular disease in people with risk factors for the condition (such as type 2 diabetes).
For people with high cholesterol, the recommended starting Lipitor dosage is usually 10 to 20 mg daily. This eMedTV resource offers an outline of basic Lipitor dosing guidelines for adults and children.
Potential Lipitor drug interactions may occur with medications such as fibrates. This eMedTV resource lists medications that may interact with Lipitor and stresses the importance of avoiding grapefruit juice when on Lipitor.
Combining Lipitor and grapefruit can increase the chances of developing serious muscle problems. This eMedTV segment provides a more detailed explanation of the dangers of mixing Lipitor and grapefruit products.
Taking Lipitor and niacin together can lead to an increased risk of developing serious muscle problems. This eMedTV segment explains the potential risks associated with taking both Lipitor and niacin, and provides links to additional information.
Taking Lipitor and Lopid at the same time significantly increases the risk for severe muscle problems. This eMedTV article explains why you should heed this Lipitor and Lopid warning and describes the muscle problems that may occur if you do not.
In the case of Lipitor, precautions and warnings for users of the drug include avoiding grapefruit. This eMedTV page discusses other precautions and warnings for Lipitor users, such as those concerning drinking alcohol with the medication.
Women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant should not take Lipitor. This section of the eMedTV library discusses Lipitor and pregnancy, including the risks the medication may present to the unborn child.
Possible Lipitor alternatives include other statins as well as fibrates and nicotinic acid. This eMedTV Web page identifies a variety of medications that may be used as alternatives to Lipitor, such as bile acid sequestrants.
There is no generic Lipitor available at this time; however, this section of the eMedTV library discusses possible alternatives to a generic Lipitor, including generic versions of Crestor, Zocor, and other cholesterol medications.
A Lipitor recall involving counterfeit medication took place in the U.S. in 2003. This eMedTV article provides details about this Lipitor recall as well as similar recall involving counterfeit Lipitor that occurred in 2005 in the U.K.
In clinical studies, up to about 4 percent of people taking Lipitor experienced muscle weakness. This eMedTV page discusses Lipitor and muscle weakness, including information about rare but serious muscle problems that may occur with the drug.
Muscle aches are a common side effect of Lipitor. This eMedTV Web page looks at the relationship between Lipitor and muscle aches, and offers a discussion of the serious muscle problems that can develop when Lipitor is used with certain other drugs.
If you're on Lipitor and arthritis symptoms become a problem, talk to your doctor. As this eMedTV page explains, in clinical trials with Lipitor, arthritis was not shown to be a side effect of the drug. Joint pain, however, is a Lipitor side effect.
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