Lipitor is a medication used for the treatment of high cholesterol and high triglycerides. This eMedTV article provides an overview of the drug, including information about how it works, when and how to take it, potential side effects, and more.
For people taking Lipitor, side effects may include headaches, muscle pain, and diarrhea. This eMedTV resource describes other side effects of Lipitor, which can also include joint pain, stomach pain, and constipation, including how common they are.
Many side effects may occur with Lipitor, and muscle pain is a relatively common one. This eMedTV article discusses Lipitor and muscle pain in detail, 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 this drug and explains how doctors monitor liver enzymes to help prevent them.
In clinical studies, joint pain was reported 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 memory loss and Lipitor, and explains that it is often hard to know if the problem is caused by the drug or not.
Weight gain is a side effect of Lipitor, although it is relatively uncommon. This eMedTV resource looks at the link between Lipitor and weight gain, and provides suggestions for losing weight in a healthy way, such as eating a low-cholesterol diet.
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 is often prescribed to lower high triglycerides and high cholesterol. As discussed in this eMedTV segment, Lipitor uses also include preventing 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.
Medications such as fibrates, other statins, and birth control pills may all interact with Lipitor. This eMedTV page describes various drugs that can cause interactions with this product and stresses the importance of avoiding grapefruit juice.
A person may be more likely to develop serious muscle problems when Lipitor and grapefruit are combined. This eMedTV segment provides a more detailed explanation of the dangers of consuming grapefruit products while taking Lipitor.
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.
The combination of alcohol and Lipitor is unlikely to cause problems in many cases. However, as this eMedTV page explains, some people may not be able to safely consume alcohol while on this drug, as it may increase the risk of side effects.
In the case of Lipitor, warnings and precautions for users of the drug include avoiding grapefruit. This eMedTV page discusses other precautions and warnings to be aware of, such as those concerning drinking alcohol when taking 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 in detail, 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 substitutes for Lipitor, such as bile acid sequestrants.
There is no generic Lipitor available at this time. However, this page of the eMedTV library discusses possible alternatives to the brand-name drug, including generic versions of other cholesterol medications and when a generic version may be available.
There have been two recalls of Lipitor in the last few years. As this eMedTV article explains, both recalls had to do with counterfeit medication. This Web page provides additional details about these recalls and explains when they occurred.
In clinical studies, up to 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 necessarily shown to be a side effect. Joint pain, however, is a Lipitor side effect.
