Lipitor is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. Lipitor blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.
Lipitor is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. Lipitor is also used to increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood. These actions are important in reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
How to use this product
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Lipitor can be taken with or without food. Lipitor is usually taken once a day. Try to take your dose at the same time each day. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with Lipitor, at twelve weeks after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose, and periodically (every 6 months) thereafter. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Lipitor. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To realize beneficial effects from Lipitor, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.
It is important to take Lipitor regularly to get the most benefit.
Do not stop taking Lipitor without first talking to your doctor. Lipitor may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.
Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with Lipitor to monitor progress and side effects.
Store Lipitor at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Side effects
Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of Lipitor and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Lipitor and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
An allergic reaction, decreased urine or rust-colored urine or blurred vision.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Lipitor and talk to your doctor if you experience headache, upset stomach or flatulence or a rash.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Precautions
Do not take Lipitor without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
Before taking Lipitor, tell your doctor if you drink alcoholic beverages, have a chronic muscular disease, require major surgery, or have a blood disorder.
You may not be able to take Lipitor, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Do NOT take Lipitor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether Lipitor passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Drug Interactions
Do not take Lipitor without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor), niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin), cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid), hormonal birth control (pills, patches, or implants) or an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral).
You may not be able to take Lipitor, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Lipitor. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
