Lipitor

Lipitor is a medicine for normalizing blood cholesterol levels within children over 10 years old and adults. It is prescribed to patients with diabetes or heart disease to prevent heart attack, stroke, or other health-threatening conditions. This medication can raise the level of "good" cholesterol or lower the level of "bad" cholesterol if you take it in full compliance with your doctor's recommendations and combine your medication therapy with a special diet. Patients who take Lipitor correctly usually achieve positive treatment results.

Before your doctor gives you a prescription, you should tell him or her about any medical conditions you have, especially if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease, muscle pain, diabetes, and thyroid problems.

Tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or if you became pregnant during the course. Lipitor is contraindicated to pregnant women, as well as nursing mothers, since the active substance can penetrate into the mother's milk and harm the baby. It is recommended to take birth control pills during the treatment. If you are breastfeeding, the doctor usually advises avoiding breastfeeding during the course of Lipitor.

It is forbidden to take the drug to people suffering from liver disease or people who have an allergic reaction to its any component. Lipitor may not work properly or lose its effectiveness if you eat foods that contain fat.

Patients who are having liver problems should not take Lipitor due to the high likelihood of possible complications. During the treatment it is recommended to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.

Use the medicine as directed by the doctor. Do not change the dosage (increase or decrease) yourself. Only the healthcare provider can change your therapy.

Application

Usually, this drug is taken every day, regardless of meals, once a day at the same time. Your doctor may change the dose of the medication in order to get the best treatment result. Do not stop taking Lipitor even if you notice clear improvements and feel well. The medication should be taken until the full course of its use is completed.

Stop taking Lipitor immediately and get medical help if you suddenly get any infectious disease, seizures, high blood potassium, and very low blood pressure. If you suddenly need surgery, you should stop taking this drug.

Cases have been recorded when elderly female patients during the treatment period got renal failure. The patients taking Lipitor should be under the supervision of a physician during the treatment.

Typically, patients begin to experience an improvement in their cholesterol levels after 2 weeks of using the drug. To check your cholesterol, you need to have a blood test. The patients usually need multiple blood tests to control their blood cholesterol levels.

It should be understood that Lipitor is only effective when combined with the diet and exercises that help to control body weight.

Store your medicine in a safe, dry place out of the reach of children and pets.

Adverse Reactions

Common side effects may include diarrhea, joint pain, leg or arm pain, and signs of a cold such as a stuffy nose and sore throat.

Serious adverse reactions may include: kidney failure, muscle pain, weakness, fever, dark urine, fatigue. If you get any of these side effects, you should see your doctor immediately. Call the doctor if you get hives, swelling, or breathing problems after taking the drug, as they are the signs of allergy and require immediate medical attention.

Comparison

• Lipitor vs Simvastatin
• Lipitor vs Cholestyramine
• Lipitor vs Pitavastatin
• Lipitor vs Rosuvastatin
• Lipitor vs Zocor
• Lipitor vs Questran
• Lipitor vs Livalo
• Lipitor vs Ezetimibe
• Lipitor vs TriCor

See Also