Atorvastatin: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

Use

What is the drug atorvastatin for?

Atorvastatin is a drug that belongs to the statin class which functions to lower cholesterol and "bad" fats (such as LDL, triglycerides) and increase "good" cholesterol (HDL) in the blood.

So in carrying out its function, this drug will reduce the amount of cholesterol made in the liver, so that ultimately fat levels are more controlled.

In order for this drug to be effective at reducing high fat levels, you should also adopt a low-fat diet and do other healthy living habits. For example exercising, losing weight if you are overweight, and quitting smoking. Consult with your doctor for more details.

Atorvastatin is a prescription drug that you can buy at a pharmacy. Do not use this medicine outside of a doctor's prescription to avoid getting worse health conditions.

How do you use the drug Atorvastatin?

There are several things you should pay attention to when using this drug, including:

• Take the dose of this drug as recommended by your doctor. Generally, this drug is only taken once a day.
• Take this medication with or without eating first. You can do both.
• Take this medicine at the same time every day to get the maximum benefits.
• Don't cut the medicine into pieces.
• Use the dosage according to the doctor's instructions.
• Before taking this medication, you must tell your doctor and pharmacist what medications are being used, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and herbal products.
• Continue to use this medication even if you feel well. Because, most people with high cholesterol or triglycerides do not usually experience certain symptoms.
• Continue to follow your doctor's recommendations for diet and exercise while using this medicine.
• It may take up to 4 weeks before you get the full benefit of this drug.

How is Atorvastatin stored?

Store the medicine at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom and also do not freeze drugs.

Medicines under different brands may have different storage methods. Check the product box for instructions on how to store it, or if in doubt, ask a pharmacist. Stay away from children and pets.

It is forbidden to flush the medicine in the toilet or throw it into the drain if not told to. Properly discard this product if it is past the deadline or is no longer needed. Consult a pharmacist for more in-depth details on how to safely dispose of the product.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of Atorvastatin for adults?

• Usual adult dose for preventing cardiovascular disease: 10-80 milligrams (mg) orally once a day.
• Usual adult dose for hyperlipidemia: 10, 20 or 40 mg orally once a day. A starting dose of 40 mg is recommended for patients who need to reduce their LDL cholesterol by more than 45%.

What is the dosage of Atorvastatin for children?

10-17 years: 10 mg per day (maximum dose 20 mg per day). Adjustments should be made at intervals of 4 weeks or more.

In what dosage and preparation is Atorvastatin available?

Tablet, oral: 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg.

Side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Atorvastatin?

Get medical help right away if you experience signs of an allergic reaction: hives difficulty breathing swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using atorvastatin and contact your doctor immediately if you experience the following serious side effects:

• Muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness without cause
• Confusion, memory problems
• Fever, unusual tiredness and dark urine
• Swelling, weight gain, less urine or no urination at all
• Thirst is faster, you urinate more frequently, the faster you are hungry, dry mouth, fruitful smell, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss
• Nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice.

Milder side effects may include:

• Mild muscle pain
• Diarrhea
• Mild nausea.

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions & Warnings

What should be known before using Atorvastatin?

• Ask your doctor about safe alcohol consumption while taking atorvastatin. Alcohol can increase the risk of side effects of this drug.
• Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine if your doctor has not advised you otherwise.
• If you are also taking other medicines to lower cholesterol (bile acid-binding resins such as cholestyramine or colestipol), take atorvastatin at least one hour before or at least four hours after taking this medicine. This product can react with atorvastatin, thus preventing the absorption of the drug completely by the body.

You should not use atorvastatin if you have an allergy to it or if you have:

• liver disorders
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

What should the doctor tell before using atorvastatin?

Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows that you have the following health conditions:

• liver disorders
• muscle weakness
• Kidney illness
• diabetes
• thyroid disorders
• addicted to alcohol

Also, don't forget to tell your doctor and pharmacist if:

1. You are allergic to atorvastatin and its ingredients

Ask the pharmacist for a list of the ingredients in the medicine if there is no description on the medicine package.

2.Are currently using other drugs

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, whether prescription and nonprescription, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products that you are taking or will be taking.

Your doctor may have to change the dose of your medication or watch you more closely for side effects. Other medicines may also interact with atorvastatin.

3. Suffering from liver disease

The doctor will do laboratory tests to see if the liver is working even though you don't think you have liver disease. Your doctor may stop you from taking atorvastatin if you have or have ever had liver disease or tests show you may develop liver disease.

4. Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant

You should not get pregnant while taking atorvastatin. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods you can use during treatment. If you become pregnant while taking atorvastatin, stop using atorvastatin and contact your doctor immediately. Atorvastatin might harm the fetus. You also should not take this medicine if you are breastfeeding.

5. Will have surgery

Whatever the surgery, including dental surgery, contact your GP or dentist that you are taking atorvastatin. If you are hospitalized for serious injuries or infections, tell the doctor who treats you that you are taking atorvastatin.

In addition to the above, you should also tell your doctor if you have:

• a habit of drinking more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day
• aged 65 years or more
• have had liver disease
• moderate or have experienced diabetes muscle pain or weakness, seizures, low blood pressure, or thyroid or kidney disease.

Is Atorvastatin safe for pregnant and lactating women?

If you take Atorvastatin while pregnant it can be dangerous for the fetus and has the potential to cause birth defects. In fact, you may have a miscarriage if you continue to take this drug while pregnant.

This is because the condition of the body and health of pregnant women is more prone to disturbances. What's more, nothing can prove that consumption of atorvastatin can reduce the production of bad fats in pregnant women.

So, avoid using this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are pregnant when your doctor recommends that you take this drug.

If you must use this medicine, use the contraceptive pill to prevent pregnancy until you really stop using this medicine. These drugs are included in pregnancy risk category X according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

If the mother is breastfeeding, atorvastatin can be released through breast milk, so that it can be drunk by a nursing baby. Therefore, do not take this medicine if you are breastfeeding, or if you absolutely must take this medicine, stop breastfeeding temporarily until you stop using this medicine.

Interaction

What other medicines may interact with Atorvastatin?

Drug interactions may change how medications work or increase the risk of serious side effects. This article does not cover all possible drug interactions.

Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and tell your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change your dose without your doctor's approval.

There are 411 types of drugs that can interact with this drug, including:

• itraconazole (Sporanox)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• boceprevir (Victrelis)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• clarithromycin (Biaxin)
• cobicistat (Stribild)
• colchicine (Colcrys)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla)
• oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as fenofibrate (Tricor)
• gemfibrozil (Lopid)
• niacin (nicotine acid, Niacor, Niaspan)
• certain HIV protease inhibitors such as darunavir (Prezista)
• fosamprenavir (Lexiva)
• lopinavir (in Kaletra)
• nelfinavir (Viracept)
• ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra)
• saquinavir (Invirase)
• tipranavir (Aptivus)
• immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• spironolactone (Aldactone)
• telaprevir (Incivek)

Can food or alcohol interact with Atorvastatin?

This medicine cannot be used in combination with grapefruit juice because drug interactions may occur. If an interaction occurs, it can increase the risk of side effects from the drug such as liver damage or serious but rare conditions such asrhabdomyolysis, which is a condition in which there is damage to the skeletal muscle tissue.

Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with a healthcare professional about using drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

What health conditions may interact with Atorvastatin?

The presence of other medical disorders may affect the use of this drug. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse, or history
• Diabetes
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• History of liver disease. Use with caution as it may exacerbate side effects.
• Convulsions, not well controlled
• Electrolyte abnormalities, severe
• Endocrine disorders, severe
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Kidney disease, severe
• Metabolic disorder, severe
• Sepsis (severe infection). Patients with this condition may be at risk of developing muscle and kidney disorders.
• Liver disease, active
• The liver enzymes are getting worse. Should not be used in patients with this condition.
• Stroke
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA), recently. Atorvastatin might increase the risk of stroke in patients with this condition.

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.