What are the common themes of cholesterol-cutting diets? In this article learn about the vegan diet, the Mediterranean diet, and the TLC diet. Researchers have discovered a cell mechanism in which cholesterol influences the proliferation of stem cells and the growth of intestinal tumors in…. The adverse effects of taking statins have repeatedly been under the spotlight. However, are these fears unfounded? MNT take a look at statin safety.
Cholesterol can deposit around the eyes and form fatty, yellow lumps. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for cholesterol deposits here. What is Lipitor? Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm. What do statins do? Uses of Lipitor Adverse effects Precautions Lipitor is a statin. Share on Pinterest A doctor may prescribe Lipitor if a person has high cholesterol.
Uses of Lipitor. Adverse effects. Share on Pinterest Headaches can be an adverse effect. Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Related Coverage. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if this side effect bothers you. It usually goes away after you stop taking the medicine. Serious side effects when taking atorvastatin are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people.
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to atorvastatin. These are not all the side effects of atorvastatin. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. Atorvastatin isn't recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as there's no firm evidence it's safe.
Talk to your doctor if you want to get pregnant. It's best to stop taking atorvastatin at least 3 months before you start trying for a baby. If you become pregnant while taking atorvastatin, stop taking the medicine and tell your doctor. It's not known if atorvastatin gets into breast milk, but it may cause problems for your baby.
Speak to your doctor about what's best for you and your baby while you're breastfeeding. It may be possible to delay starting or restarting atorvastatin until you've stopped breastfeeding completely.
Some medicines affect the way atorvastatin works and can increase the risk of serious side effects. If you're taking atorvastatin and need to take one of these medicines, your doctor may:. These are not all the medicines that can interfere with atorvastatin. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet or check with your pharmacist. St John's wort, a herbal medicine taken for depression , reduces the amount of atorvastatin in your blood, so it doesn't work as well. Talk to your doctor if you're thinking about starting St John's wort, as it will change how well atorvastatin works.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. Atorvastatin acts on the liver to stop it making cholesterol. This lowers your blood cholesterol level. For the first 12 months on this medicine, you'll be offered a couple of routine tests to make sure your liver is working normally. Your cholesterol levels should drop noticeably within 4 weeks - if you take your medicine regularly, as prescribed.
Usually, treatment with a statin such as atorvastatin is for life. The benefits will only continue for as long as you take it.
If you stop taking atorvastatin without starting a different treatment, your cholesterol level may rise again. You may have read negative stories about statins, but they're thought to be very safe, effective medicines. Statins are thought to have very few side effects. Sometimes the side effects that people report aren't related to their medicine.
However, if you're concerned about the safety of statins, talk to your doctor. Atorvastatin is safe to take for a long time, even many years. In fact, it works best when you take it for a long time. No, there's no evidence that atorvastatin is addictive. You won't get any withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. You may want to stop atorvastatin if you think you're having side effects. Talk to your doctor first to see if it really is a side effect of atorvastatin or an unrelated problem.
Your doctor may decide to lower your dose or change your medicine. You won't get any withdrawal symptoms. However, stopping atorvastatin may cause your cholesterol to rise. This increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you want to stop taking your medicine, it's important to find another way to lower your cholesterol. There's some interest in taking CoQ10 together with statins.
However there's no firm evidence that taking CoQ10 at the same time as atorvastatin will benefit your health. More research is needed. If you decide to take a CoQ10 supplement, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Supplements can interfere with other medicines you may also be taking. If you're at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, taking statins may slightly increase this risk.
This is because statins can raise your blood sugar a little. Speak to your doctor, who will be able to explain how the benefits of taking statins are likely to outweigh this small increased risk. If you already have type 2 diabetes, your doctor may advise monitoring your blood sugar levels more closely for the first few months. Tell your doctor or diabetes nurse if you find it harder to control your blood sugar.
Statins all work in the same way, but they differ in how well they lower cholesterol. There are several other statin medicines for lowering your cholesterol, including:.
If you have a side effect with one statin, it may not happen with another. Some medicines do not mix well with one statin, but you can take them with a different one. Your doctor will find the right statin and dose for you, depending on your medical history, cholesterol level and the other medicines you take. There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking atorvastatin will reduce fertility in either men or women.
While some drugs pose minor interaction risks, others may outright contraindicate use or prompt careful consideration as to whether the pros of treatment outweigh the cons in your case.
Lipitor tablets come in , , , and milligram mg doses that are taken once a day, as directed by your healthcare provider.
The standard starting dose for adults is 10 to 20 mg. Your healthcare provider may slowly increase the dose as needed based upon your LDL levels and your response to the medication. The starting dose for adolescents ages 10 to 17 with an inherited form of high cholesterol is 10 mg up to a maximum dose of 20 mg once daily. All listed dosages are according to the drug manufacturer. Check your prescription and talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you are taking the right dose for you.
Never increase your dose without your healthcare provider's OK. Patients who are 65 or older are at a greater risk of musculoskeletal side effects with Lipitor and may need to take a lower dose or discontinue use of the drug if they experience muscle weakness or breakdown. Lipitor can be taken with or without food. It is quickly absorbed, reaching its peak concentration in the blood within about two hours. Lipitor should always be taken in conjunction with a diet to lower your cholesterol and triglycerides.
Store the tablets at a controlled room temperature that's ideally 68 to 77 degrees F. If you miss a dose of Lipitor, take it as soon as you remember. But if it has been more than 12 hours since the missed dose, skip it and just take your next scheduled dose.
Do not take two doses at once. If you take too much Lipitor or overdose, seek immediate medical care. As with all drugs and all statins, Lipitor comes with the risk of side effects. Some can be serious or require treatment, so it's important to be aware of them. If you are experiencing any side effects from taking Lipitor that become prolonged or bothersome, you should let your healthcare provider know. Some people experience allergic reactions to atorvastatin.
If you experience any signs of allergic reaction, seek urgent medical attention. There are also rare but serious side effects that affect skeletal muscles. Lipitor can cause muscle myopathy muscle disease that causes muscle aches or weakness and rhabdomyolysis muscle breakdown.
There have also been cases of rhabdomyolysis that lead to kidney problems, including kidney failure, while taking Lipitor. If you experience any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, soreness, or weakness, especially if it is accompanied with malaise and fever, notify your healthcare provider right away.
Your dosage of Lipitor may need to be lowered or stopped. Your risk of experiencing rhabdomyolysis can increase if you are taking other medications or are older than While you are taking Lipitor, your healthcare provider will have you come in periodically for blood tests to monitor your cholesterol levels and to check if your dosage needs to be adjusted.
You may also need to be monitored more closely if you have certain medical conditions that could be aggravated by taking the medication or increase the risk of side effects.
If you have any of the following conditions, your healthcare provider may decide to start you on a lower dose of Lipitor and will need to monitor you to determine whether or not taking Lipitor will be potentially harmful to you:. Lipitor may also need to be temporarily withheld or discontinued with certain conditions that can lead to myopathy or kidney failure with rhabdomyolysis. This may include the following:. Lipitor can cause liver problems, so tell your healthcare provider if you drink alcohol daily.
You may need blood tests to check your liver. Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication since it can impair your body's ability to metabolize the drug and increase blood concentrations of Lipitor. Drugs and supplements can also interact with Lipitor, and some can increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects, especially myopathy.
If you are taking any of these drugs with Lipitor, your healthcare provider may need to adjust your dose, monitor you more closely for side effects, or discontinue one of the drugs:. Looking to start a diet to better manage your cholesterol? Changing lifelong eating habits can be scary at first, but our guide will make it easier.
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