Lipitor and Pregnancy

Lipitor and pregnancy can be a dangerous combination. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Lipitor is a pregnancy Category X drug, meaning that it has been shown to cause problems to the fetus in studies of pregnant animals or in pregnant women who have mistakenly taken the medicine. Because of the risks associated with taking Lipitor during pregnancy, pregnant women should not take the medication.

 

Lipitor and Pregnancy: An Overview

Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) is a pregnancy Category X medicine, meaning that Lipitor could potentially cause harm to your unborn child. Therefore, women who are pregnant should not take Lipitor. If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider immediately.
 

Lipitor and Pregnancy Category X

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category X refers to medicines that cause problems to the fetus in pregnant animal studies or in humans who have mistakenly taken the medicine while pregnant. The use of a Category X medicine during pregnancy is not recommended.
 

Suggestions Concerning Lipitor and Pregnancy

The
 effects of high cholesterol do not normally cause problems for many years (or even decades). Therefore, if a woman does not take cholesterol medicine during pregnancy, it is likely to have very little or no impact on her long-term health. Since there is little benefit to taking Lipitor while pregnant and a very real risk to the fetus, your healthcare provider will most likely recommend that you do not take Lipitor while pregnant. If you are thinking of becoming pregnant, be sure to discuss Lipitor and pregnancy with your healthcare provider.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;