Lipitor

Lipitor is a prescription medication used to treat high cholesterol and high triglycerides. It is also used to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Lipitor belongs to a class of drugs known as statins, which block an enzyme that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. Potential side effects include headaches, muscle pain, diarrhea, and joint pain.

 

What Is Lipitor?

Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) is a prescription medication used to treat a number of conditions related to heart disease, including high cholesterol and high triglycerides.
 

Who Makes Lipitor?

The medication is manufactured by Pfizer.
 

What Is It Used For?

Lipitor has been licensed for several conditions. These uses include the:
 

How Does It Work?

Lipitor is part of a class of drugs called statins (or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors).
 It works by blocking a particular enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol. The medication also:
 

What Are the Effects of Lipitor?

In general, cholesterol treatment begins with lifestyle changes (weight loss, exercise, and diet). If lifestyle changes do not lower cholesterol to a desirable level, cholesterol medication, such as Lipitor, may be necessary.
 
The main goal of high cholesterol medication is to lower LDL cholesterol levels enough to reduce your risk for developing problems related to high cholesterol, such as heart disease or a heart attack (see Effects of High Cholesterol). The higher your risk, the lower your LDL goal will be.
 
(Click High Cholesterol Risk to see what your risk is and what level your LDL cholesterol level should be under.)
 
Because Lipitor can lower LDL cholesterol (along with lowering total cholesterol and increasing HDL), taking the medication can lower a person's risk for developing cholesterol-related health problems.
 
In previous research studies, people taking Lipitor 10 mg were able to, on average, decrease LDL cholesterol by 39 percent, total cholesterol by 29 percent, triglycerides by 19 percent, and raise HDL by 6 percent. For higher dosages of the medication, the effect was even greater.
 

When and How Do I Take It?

Some general considerations for when and how to take Lipitor include the following:
 
  • It comes in tablet form; you take it once a day. Take your dose with a glass of water, with or without food.
     
  • It does not matter if you take your dose in the morning or at night; however, you should take it at the same time each day, to maintain an even level of the medication in your blood.
     
  • Do not break, chew, or crush the tablets.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. It will not work if you stop taking it.
     

Dietary Instructions

People taking this drug should not drink grapefruit juice. Grapefruit juice can increase the levels of Lipitor in the blood, which can increase the risk of developing muscle problems. If you are being treated with Lipitor and want to continue drinking grapefruit juice, talk to your doctor about other cholesterol-lowering medications that you can take.
 
(Click Lipitor and Grapefruit for more information.)
 
As with any cholesterol medication, you should continue to eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet as part of your cholesterol-lowering treatment program.
 

Dosing Information

The dosage your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • The medical condition being treated
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless specifically instructed by your healthcare provider to do so.
 
(Click Lipitor Dosage for more information.)
 

Potential Side Effects of Lipitor

(The side effects listed below are NOT a complete list of possible side effects associated with Lipitor. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of side effects with you.)
 
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects associated with Lipitor, but not everyone who takes it will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it well. When people do develop Lipitor side effects, in many cases they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by the patient or his or her healthcare provider.
 
The most common side effects of this drug are:
 
 
Also, keep in mind that if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, (especially if they are with a fever or if you feel ill), it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately (see Lipitor and Muscle Weakness).
 
(Click Lipitor Side Effects to learn more about specific side effects of this medication. You can also learn about other possible side effects by clicking on:
 
 

Drug Interactions

Lipitor can potentially interact with a number of medicines.
 
(Click Lipitor Drug Interactions for more information about these possible interactions.)
 

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Starting Lipitor?

Before you start taking this medication, let your healthcare provider know if you have:
 
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
  • Pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant (see Lipitor and Pregnancy)
  • Breastfeeding
  • Planning to undergo a procedure or surgery
  • Drinking alcohol frequently.
     
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, antacids, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Lipitor Precautions and Warnings for more information on this topic, including information on who should not take Lipitor.)
 

What If I Overdose?

In the event of a Lipitor overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
 

How Should I Store It?

Store the medication at room temperature, away from moisture.
 
Keep Lipitor and all medications out of the reach of children.
 

What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?

If you do not take your Lipitor as scheduled, take your next dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed one and continue with normal dosing. Never take a double dose!
 

Strengths

There are several strengths of Lipitor available. These include:
 
  • Lipitor 10 mg
  • Lipitor 20 mg
  • Lipitor 40 mg
  • Lipitor 80 mg.
     

Is There a Generic Lipitor?

There is currently no generic Lipitor available for sale.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;