Lipitor Uses (Cont.)

How Does Lipitor Work?

Lipitor is part of a class of drugs called statins. Lipitor 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. It also increases the liver's ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol. Lipitor also increases HDL and decreases triglycerides.
 
The effects of Lipitor reduce the levels of the following forms of cholesterol and fats:
 
  • Total cholesterol
  • LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
  • Apo B (apolipoprotein B)
  • VLDL
  • Triglycerides.
     
People taking Lipitor may experience an increase in HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol").
 
The main goal of any high cholesterol treatment is to lower your LDL cholesterol enough to reduce your risk for developing problems related to high cholesterol (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 your LDL cholesterol level should be under.)
 
Any cholesterol treatment begins with lifestyle changes (such as weight loss, diet, and exercise). If lifestyle changes alone are not effective in lowering cholesterol to the desired level, cholesterol medication, such as Lipitor, may be necessary.
 

Is Lipitor Used for Children?

Lipitor has been approved to treat high cholesterol in children ages 10 to 17.
 

Are There any "Off-Label" Lipitor Uses?

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend certain drugs for treating medical conditions other than those for which a medication is licensed; this is called an "off-label" use. At this time, there are no known off-label uses for Lipitor.
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;