Drug Uses
Lipitor is used with diet changes (restriction of cholesterol and fat intake) to reduce the amount of cholesterol and certain fatty substances in your blood. Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats may help to prevent heart disease, angina (Chest pain), strokes, and heart attacks.
How Taken
Lipitor comes as a tablet to take it orally. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. To help you remember to take Lipitor, take it around the same time every day. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of Lipitor and gradually increase your dose.
Continue to take Lipitor even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Lipitor without talking to your doctor. Eat a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet
Warnings/Precautions
Do not take Lipitor without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
Before taking Lipitor, tell your doctor if you have a chronic muscular disease, require major surgery, or have a blood disorder.
You may not be able to take Lipitor, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Lipitor is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that Lipitor is known to cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. Do not take Lipitor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether Lipitor passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
Possible Side Effects
Although side effects from Lipitor are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
-gas
-stomach pain or cramps
-diarrhea
-constipation
-heartburn
-headache
-blurred vision
-dizziness
-rash or itching
-upset stomach
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
-muscle pain
-tenderness
-muscle cramps or weakness with or without a fever.
Storage
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. The symptoms of an Lipitor overdose are not known.
More Information
Alcohol and Lipitor can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Lipitor. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects.
Disclaimer
This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.
Lipitor News
The You Docs: Get smarter in six minutesSeattle Post Intelligencer - 2 hours ago... of cheap mustard or a curry dish daily, and ask your doc about a nonbrain-crossing statin drug (such as Lipitor or Crestor) or high-dose niacin. ... |
TO THE POINTInvestor's Business Daily (subscription) - 1 hour agoThe Patent Office said it will accept the drug maker's application to correct a technical defect in one of the patents covering its cholesterol drug Lipitor ... |
Pfizer CEO: Big Acquisitions Are an OptionWall Street Journal Blogs, NY - Jan 5, 2009If you?re the CEO of Pfizer ? which will face generic competition for Lipitor in 2011, and which holds cash and short term investments worth more than $20 ... |
Warning: Patent cliff approachingFiercePharma, DC - Jan 5, 2009Case in point: Lipitor. Settling a long-running patent dispute, Pfizer and Ranbaxy Laboratories came up with a mutual back-scratching deal under which ... |
Sony planning cutbacks: media reportsThe Gazette (Montreal), Canada - Jan 5, 2009Sales of Pfizer's Lipitor anti-cholesterol drug will decline after 2011 when generic versions hit the market. Pfizer needs diverse new sources of revenue ... |
BidRx: Purchase Prescriptions for LessImperial Valley News, CA - 18 hours agoIn the fall of 2008, Pfizer, the maker of Lipitor, the world's most-prescribed drug, reported a 13 percent drop in sales in its third quarter. ... |
Allergies
