Atorvastatin (Systemic)

Brand Names : Lipitor

Before Using This Medicine

In addition to its helpful effects in treating your medical problem, this type of medicine may have some harmful effects.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For atorvastatin, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to atorvastatin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet - Before prescribing medicine for your condition, your doctor will probably try to control your condition by prescribing a personal diet for you. Such a diet may be low in fats, sugars, and/or cholesterol. Many people are able to control their condition by carefully following their doctor's orders for proper diet and exercise. Medicine is prescribed only when additional help is needed and is effective only when a schedule of diet and exercise is properly followed.

Also, this medicine is less effective if you are greatly overweight. It may be very important for you to go on a weight-reducing diet. However, check with your doctor before going on any diet.

Pregnancy - Atorvastatin should not be used during pregnancy or by women who plan to become pregnant . This medicine blocks formation of cholesterol, which is necessary for the fetus to develop properly. Atorvastatin may cause birth defects or other problems in the baby if taken during pregnancy. An effective form of birth control should be used during treatment with these medicines. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you have become pregnant while taking this medicine . Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.

Breast-feeding - It is not known if atorvastatin passes into breast milk. However, it should not be used during breast-feeding because it may cause serious unwanted effects in nursing babies.

Children - This medicine is safe to use in boys and some girls 10 to 17 years of age for treating certain types of high cholesterol.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, blood levels of atorvastatin tend to be higher in older people than they do in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking atorvastatin it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following medications:

• Alcohol abuse (or history of)
  May cause liver problems and should not be used while taking atorvastatin

• Antifungals, azole (e.g., fluconazole [Diflucan], miconazole injection [Monistat IV], ketoconazole [Nizoral], itraconazole [Sporanox], voriconazole [Vfend]) or
• Cyclosporine (e.g., Sandimmune) or
• Erythromycin (e.g., Erythrocin) or
• Fibric Acid Derivatives. such as
  • Clofibrate (e.g., Atromid-S) or
  • Fenofibrate (e.g., Tricor) or
  • Gemfibrozil (e.g., Lopid) or
• Niacin (nicotinic acid) in lipid-lowering doses - Use of these medicines with atorvastatin may increase the risk of developing muscle problems (causing the release of muscle pigment into the urine) that may lead to kidney failure

• Digoxin (e.g., Lanoxin) - Using this medicine with atorvastatin may cause there to be more digoxin in your body

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of atorvastatin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse (or history of) or
• Liver disease (or history of) or
• Liver enzymes, persistently high levels - Use of this medicine may make liver problems worse

• Convulsions (seizures), not well-controlled, or
• Electrolyte or metabolic enzyme deficiencies or disorders or
• Infection, severe or
• Low blood pressure or
• Major surgery or trauma, recent - Patients with these conditions may be at risk of developing muscle problems (causing the release of muscle pigment into the urine) that may lead to kidney failure