Lipitor is prescribed for treatment of high cholesterol. It decreases the risk of stroke, heart attack in patients with coronary heart disease or second type of diabetes. Its main ingredient Atorvastatin helps to clear out of the blood low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Directions
It is strongly recommended to take the medicine as it was prescribed by your doctor. Take it with a glass of water. The recommended dose for adults and children more that 10 y. o. is 10 mg per day.
Precautions
Before starting your treatment with Lipitor inform your doctor if you have diabetes, underactive thyroid glands, kidney disease, or muscle disease. Avoid to use large amounts of alcohol.Don't use if you're pregnant or breast-feeding without consultation with doctor.
Contraindications
Patients with liver problems, abnormal liver function tests, patients who are using HIV protease inhibitors, itraconazole, or mibefradil, patients with hypersensitivity to the medicine, pregnant and breastfeeding women can't use the medicine.
Possible side effect
Side effects can be the following: allergic reaction, muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever or flu symptoms; nausea, clay-colored stools, stomach pain, low fever, jaundice, loss of appetite, dark urine, constipation, bloating, gas, stuffy nose, itching, skin rash, headache. If you experience any of the side effects listed above contact your doctor at once.
Drug interaction
Lipitor can interact with the following medicines: digoxin; erythromycin or clarithromycin; gemfibrozil or fenofibrate; niacin; an antifungal medication such as itraconazole, fluconazole, or ketoconazole; cancer medicine or steroids, cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus, and others; HIV or AIDS medication such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, lopinavir-ritonavir, or saquinavir. Consult with your doctor and note that interaction between two medications doesn't mean the necessity to stop taking one of them.
Missed dose
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it is almost time of the next intake just skip it and go back to your schedule.
Overdose
If you think you have overdosed the medicine seek emergency medical help immediately. The overdose symptoms are a severe drop in blood pressure and a faster heartbeat.
Storage
Store the medicine at room temperature between 59-77 degrees F (15-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture, kids and pets.
Note
The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.
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