This entry was migrated from the earlier Pharmapedia app bundle and has not been reviewed by a named clinician on this site. It is provided for educational reference only — verify dosage and safety information against current, authoritative sources and a qualified healthcare professional before any clinical use.
Atorvastatin is a prescription medicine used to treat high cholesterol and to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, angina, and to decrease the chance that heart surgery will be needed in people who have heart disease or who are at risk of developing heart disease.
Atorvastatin helps lower LDL cholesterol ('bad cholesterol') and triglyceride levels, and increases HDL cholesterol ('good cholesterol') levels, to improve your overall lipid profile.
Atorvastatin calcium belongs to a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, commonly referred to as statins.
Atrovastatin tablets are taken once daily with or without food.
Indications
Atorvastatin is a prescription medicine used to treat high cholesterol and to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, angina, and to decrease the chance that heart surgery will be needed in people who have heart disease or who are at risk of developing heart disease.
Atorvastatin helps lower LDL cholesterol ('bad cholesterol') and triglyceride levels, and increases HDL cholesterol ('good cholesterol') levels, to improve your overall lipid profile.
Atorvastatin calcium belongs to a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, commonly referred to as statins.
Atrovastatin tablets are taken once daily with or without food.
Contraindications
You should not use atorvastatin if you are allergic to it, or if you have liver failure or cirrhosis.
To make sure atorvastatin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
muscle pain or weakness; diabetes; stroke; a thyroid disorder; a habit of drinking more than 2 alcoholic beverages per day; or kidney disease.
Atorvastatin can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure. This happens more often in women, in older adults, or people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism ( underactive thyroid ).
Side Effects
The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Atorvastatin are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Flatulence, Weakness, Headache, Diarrhea, Fever, Myalgia, Constipation, Insomnia, Abdominal pain, Skin rashes, Blurred vision, Pharyngitis, Dyspepsia, Malaise, Asthenia, Arthralgia, Elevation of liver enzymes, Myopathy, Backache, Increased intracranial pressure, GI disturbance, Sinusitis.
Warnings
You should not take atrovastatin calcium if you have liver disease or cirrhosis .
Atorvastatin calcium can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure . Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain , tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have fever , unusual tiredness, or dark urine.
Serious drug interactions can occur when certain medicines are used together with atrovastatin calcium. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.
Avoid drinking more than 1.2 liters of grapefruit juice each day.
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Atrovastatin is often used in conjunction with a cholesterol-lowering diet.
High Risk Groups
You should not take atrovastatin calcium if you have liver disease or cirrhosis .
Atorvastatin calcium can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure . Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain , tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have fever , unusual tiredness, or dark urine.
Serious drug interactions can occur when certain medicines are used together with atrovastatin calcium. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.
Avoid drinking more than 1.2 liters of grapefruit juice each day.
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Atrovastatin is often used in conjunction with a cholesterol-lowering diet.
Adult Dosage
10 to 80 mg (45 (45)) 24 hourly PO —
Scraped Dose — Take atorvastatin tablet once daily with or without food. Many people ask when to take atorvastatin morning or night? It can be taken any time of the day, but try and take it at the same time each day.
Take the liquid medicine on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal. Shake the oral suspension (liquid). Measure a dose with the supplied measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).
Take atorvastatin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.
Do not change your dose or stop taking any of your medications without your doctor's advice.
It may take up to 2 weeks before your cholesterol levels improve, and you may need frequent blood tests. Even if you have no symptoms, tests can help your doctor determine if this medicine is effective.
Your treatment may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and blood tests.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Throw away in the trash any unused liquid 60 days after opening the bottle.
Child Dosage
( ) —
0 to 80 mg (40 (40)) 24 hourly po —
Neonatal Dosage
( ) — Not recommended in this age group
Drug Interactions
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which can increase the risk of serious muscle problems or make the medicines less effective.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can interact with atorvastatin, especially:
other cholesterol-lowering medicines - gemfibrozil , niacin , fenofibrate , fenofibric acid , and others; colchicine ; antibiotic or antifungal medicine - rifampin , erythromycin , clarithromycin , itraconazole , ketoconazole , posaconazole , and voriconazole ; birth control pills ; medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection; or antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV.
This list is not complete, and many other drugs may interact with atorvastatin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins , and herbal products . Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Storage
Tab Store in a well closed container, Between 20°C-25°C. Protect from Moisture and Heat.
