What is Lipitor used for?

Lipitor tablets10mg are used to lower high levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood and reduce risk of heart disease that can be caused by high cholesterol. Lipitor 10 lowers levels of total cholesterol as well as reducing “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause arteries to become hardened and blocked, and also increases levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries. Lipitor 10 is used, in conjunction with a low-fat diet, to treat patients at risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) or patients with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia), inherited or due to lifestyle (high-fat diet, obesity and lack of exercise), who have not responded to a low-fat diet and lifestyle changes alone.

How does Lipitor work?

Lipitor tablets 10mg contain atorvastatin, which belongs to a group of cholesterol-lowing medications called statins. Atorvastatin reduces the production of cholesterol by the liver by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis. Lipitor 10 only blocks cholesterol that is produced in the liver and has no effect on cholesterol that comes from fat in food, which is why a low-fat diet is important even when you are taking Lipitor 10mg. In most cases there are no symptoms for high cholesterol, but using Lipitor 10mg to lower blood cholesterol reduces your risk of heart disease.

What Lipitor doses are available?

Lipitor tablets are available to order and buy online from Inhouse Pharmacy in doses of 10mg, 20mg and 40mg as packs of 30 tablets.

What does Lipitor contain?

Lipitor 10mg tablets contain the active ingredient atorvastatin 10mg, which is a cholesterol-lowing medication belonging to the group of drugs called statins. They also contain calcium carbonate, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, croscarmellose sodium, polysorbate 80, hydroxypropylcellulose, magnesium stearate, opadry white YS-1-7040, simethicone emulsion.

Lowering cholesterol with Lipitor

Lipitor 10mg contains the cholesterol-lowing statin medication atorvastatin, which reduces the production of cholesterol by the liver by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis. Lipitor 10mg lowers levels of total cholesterol as well as reducing “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause arteries to become hardened and blocked, and also increases levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries. Using Lipitor 10mg to lower blood cholesterol reduces your risk of heart disease.

Treating high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) with Lipitor

Lipitor 10mg, contains the cholesterol-lowing statin medication atorvastatin, used to treat high cholesterol which can increase risk of heart disease. Although some cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions such as building cell membranes, producing certain hormones and transporting fat soluble vitamins around the body, if there is more cholesterol than the body needs, it becomes deposited in the artery walls where it can build up, blocking the arteries and increasing risk of heart disease. Lipitor 10mg is used to lower high levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood, by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver where it inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.

Effects of alcohol and grapefruit on Lipitor

If you drink large quantities of alcohol, you may increase the risk of liver problems when taking Lipitor. Grapefruit juice in large quantities (more than one litre a day) can also increase risk of side effects as it increases the amount of Lipitor that gets into your blood.

What are the side effects of Lipitor?

Lipitor 10mg tablets are generally well tolerated but it is always possible that you may experience side effects. The more common side effect include: constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, headache and dizziness. More serious side effects are less common and may include:

• muscle ache, tenderness or weakness, not caused by exercise
• tingling in the hands or feet
• insomnia
• fever
• skin rash, itchiness
• hives
• painful, swollen joints
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes)
• anaemia

What medications interact with Lipitor?

Several medications interact with Lipitor and should either not be taken while you are taking Lipitor or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that increase risk of side effects when taking Lipitor 10mg: macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin; HIV protease inhibitor, such as ritonavir; itraconazole and ketoconazole use to treat fungal infection
• Drugs that interact with Lipitor 10mg: other cholesterol lowering medication such as gemfibrozil; cyclosporin, used to suppress the immune system; verapamil or diltiazem, medicines used to treat high blood pressure, angina, or other heart conditions; amiodarone, used to treat irregular heart beat; anticoagulants such as warfarin
• Drugs that are affected by Lipitor 10mg: digoxin for heart failure; oral contaceptives

When should Lipitor not be used?

You should not use Lipitor if you:

• are allergic to atorvastatin or to any of the other ingredients of Lipitor 10mg tablets
• have active liver disease
• are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breast-feeding
• are taking other medication that interacts with Lipitor, including, macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, ritonavir for itraconazole and ketoconazole use to treat fungal infection, cyclosporin, used to suppress the immune system, cardiac glycosides like digoxin, antacids for indigestion, anticoagulants such as coumarin verapamil or diltiazem, medicines used to treat high blood pressure, angina, or other heart conditions, amiodarone, used to treat irregular heart beat.

How should Lipitor be taken?

You should take Lipitor 10mg tablets with a glass of water once a day, preferably in the evening after your evening meal, although you can take Lipitor with or without food. Lipitor 10 is most effective at night when your body is at resting and your liver is producing the most cholesterol. The dose you take and for how long should be as recommended by your doctor.

How long should you take Lipitor?

Lipitor 10mg tablets helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high and if you stop taking Lipitor, your cholesterol levels may rise again. Therefore you may need to take Lipitor for the rest of your life, if recommended by your doctor.

Missed dose of Lipitor

If you miss a dose of Lipitor 10mg tablets take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Lipitor be stored?

Keep your Lipitor 10mg tablets in the blister packs provided, do not remove them or they will not keep. Store Lipitor 10 in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C