What is it used for?
Lipitor is indicated to:
• Reduce the risk of myocardial infarction
• Reduce the risk of stroke
• Reduce the risk for revascularization procedures and angina
• Reduce the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction
• Reduce the risk of fatal and non-fatal stroke
• Reduce the risk for revascularization procedures
• Reduce the risk of hospitalization for CHF
Contraindications and cautions:
Do not take LIPITOR if:
• you have an allergy to atorvastatin or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face.
• you have active liver disease.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Tell your doctor if you:
• have any other medical conditions including:
o liver problems
o muscle pain, tenderness or weakness from other medicines used to treat cholesterol or triglycerides.
• have a history of haemorrhagic stroke
• drink alcohol regularly
• have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you take any LIPITOR.
Side effects:
ipitor can cause serious side effects. These side effects have happened only to a small number of people. Your doctor can monitor you for them. These side effects usually go away if your dose is lowered or Lipitor is stopped. These serious side effects include:
• Muscle problems. Lipitor can cause serious muscle problems that can lead to kidney problems, including kidney failure. You have a higher chance for muscle problems if you are taking certain other medicines with Lipitor.
• Liver problems. Lipitor can cause liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking Lipitor, and while you take it.
Call your doctor right away if you have:
• muscle problems like weakness, tenderness, or pain that happen without a good reason, especially if you also have a fever or feel more tired than usual
• nausea and vomiting
• passing brown or dark-colored urine
• you feel more tired than usual
• your skin and whites of your eyes get yellow
• stomach pain
Common side effects of Lipitor include headache, constipation, diarrhea, gas, upset stomach and stomach pain, rash, and muscle and joint pain. These side effects are usually mild and may go away.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that bother you or that will not go away.
These are not all the side effects of Lipitor. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list.
Interactions: Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines or remedies, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with LIPITOR. These include:
• digoxin, a medicine used to treat some heart problems
• the antibiotics erythromycin, clarithromycin and rifampicin
• phenytoin, a medicine used to treat epilepsy
• oral contraceptives
• other medicines to treat high cholesterol or triglycerides
• cyclosporin, a medicine used to suppress the immune system
• some medicines used to treat some fungal infections
• efavirenz and protease inhibitors for the treatment of HIV infection
• diltiazem, a medicine used to treat angina.
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