Information about Atorvastatin (Generic Lipitor) :


Lipitor is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor that is used for reducing 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. It helps to reduce risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Lipitor also elevates the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood.

Lipitor may be also administered to treat other conditions as determined by your physician.

Before taking Lipitor you should tell your doctor: if you have liver disease; if you drink alcoholic beverages; if you have a chronic muscular disease require major surgery, or have a blood disorder.

In such cases you may not be able to use Lipitor, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

Lipitor is in the FDA pregnancy category X. It may cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. It is not allowed to take Lipitor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

It is not clear whether Lipitor passes into breast milk. You should consult with your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How to use Lipitor:
Lipitor is taken once a day at the same time with or without food. Each dose should be taken with a full glass of water.

In some cases it may be necessary 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.

Try not to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice at the same time you take Lipitor. It may increase the risk of possible side effects. You should consult with your doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet.

You should keep to a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Try to avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.

Try not to miss any dose and take it according to regular scheduler.

Do not give up taking Lipitor even if you feel well. It may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the complete treatment.

Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with Lipitor to monitor progress and side effects.

To monitor your progress or to check for side effects lab tests may be performed. Follow all doctor and lab appointments strictly.

Lipitor should be kept at indoor temperature away from moisture and heat.

In case you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next intake, skip the missed dose and take it according to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take double doses at once.

Seek emergency in case of overdose suspicion. The signs of overdose are not known.

Drinking alcohol daily or in large amounts may increase the risk of liver problems while taking Lipitor. Consult with your doctor before drinking alcohol.

Possible side effects of Lipitor:
You should consult with your doctor if you have any of side effects especially bothersome listed below: muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flu like 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.

Seek emergency in case you have any of these severe side effects: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or o blurred vision.

Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur. Do not stop taking Lipitor and consult with your doctor in case you have headache; upset stomach or flatulence; or a rash. You may also have other side effects not listed here. Talk to your doctor if you have any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Be aware that Lipitor may interact with some medicines: alcohol-containing beverages; antacids; barbiturates (examples: phenobarbital, butalbital, primidone); birth control pills; bosentan; carbamazepine; certain antibiotics such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, or troleandomycin; colestipol; cyclosporine; diltiazem; fenofibrate; gemfibrozil; grapefruit juice; herbal medicines such as St. John's Wort or Went Yeast/Red Rice Yeast; imatinib, STI-571; medicines for fungal infections (examples: fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole); medicines for treating HIV infection; niacin; nefazodone; oxcarbazepine; phenytoin; pioglitazone; rifampin, rifabutin, or rifapentine; telithromycin; verapamil.

What is the expiration date of the pills?
This information is mentioned on each blister. The expiration date is 2 years from the date of manufacture. It may be different for various batches.