Lipitor Information
Atorvastatin calcium
What Lipitor is used for
LIPITOR belongs to a group of medicines called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
and is used to lower high cholesterol.
Everyone has cholesterol in their blood. It is a type of blood fat needed
by the body for things such as building cell walls, making bile acids
(which help to digest food) and some hormones. However, too much cholesterol
can be a problem. Cholesterol is present in many foods and is also made
in your body by the liver. If your body makes too much cholesterol or
you take too much cholesterol in your diet, then your level becomes
too high.
A problem is more likely to occur with certain diseases or if you have
a family history of high cholesterol.
There are different types of cholesterol. LDL is the 'bad' cholesterol
that can block your blood vessels. HDL cholesterol is the 'good' cholesterol
that is thought to remove t he bad cholesterol from the blood vessels.
When you have high levels of 'bad' cholesterol in your blood, it may
begin to 'stick' to the inside of your blood vessels instead of being
carried to the parts of the body where it is needed. Over time, this
can form hard areas, also called plaque, on the walls of your blood
vessels, making it more difficult for the blood to flow. This blocking
of your blood vessels can lead to several types of blood vessel disease,
heart attack, angina and stroke. There is another type of blood fat
called triglyceride which is a source of energy. However, high levels
of triglyceride can be associated with a low level of 'good' cholesterol
and may increase your risk of heart disease.
In some patients, LIPITOR is used to treat high cholesterol and high
triglycerides together.
LIPITOR does not reduce the cholesterol that comes from fat in food.
Therefore, when you are taking LIPITOR, you also need to follow a low
fat diet and other measures, such as exercise and weight control.
In most people, there are no symptoms of abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride
levels. Your doctor can measure your levels with a simple blood test.
Your doctor may have prescribed LIPITOR for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why LIPITOR has been
prescribed for you.
LIPITOR is not addictive.
Do not take LIPITOR if:
you have an allergy to LIPITOR or any of the ingredients listed at the
end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of allergy may include skin rash, itching, difficulty
breathing, swelling of the face
you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Your baby may absorb this medicine in the womb or from breast milk and
therefore there is a possibility of harm to the baby.
you have active liver disease
you have had muscle pain, tenderness or weakness from other medicines
used to treat high cholesterol or triglycerides
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not
work or it may make you unwell.
If you are not sure whether to start taking LIPITOR, talk to your doctor.
How to take Lipitor
Use LIPITOR only when prescribed by your doctor.
LIPITOR has been prescribed for you by your doctor for a very specific
purpose. Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist
carefully. These directions may differ from the information contained
in this leaflet. If you do not understand the instructions on the box,
ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Your doctor will decide the dose, depending on your cholesterol and
triglyceride levels. The usual starting dose is 10 mg once daily. The
dose may need to be increased to have the best effect. The highest dose
is 80 mg once daily.
How and when to take it
Take your dose of LIPITOR once a day at the same time. It does not matter
whether you take it with or without food. Swallow LIPITOR with a glass
of water or other liquid.
How long to take it
LIPITOR helps to lower your levels of cholesterol but does not cure
your condition. Therefore you must continue to take it as directed by
your doctor if you expect to keep your levels lowered. You may have
to take this kind of medicine for the rest of your life. If you stop
taking LIPITOR, your levels may rise again.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and
take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon
as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablet(s) as you would
normally.
If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or
pharmacist. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you
missed. If you have trouble remembering to take your tablets, ask your
pharmacist for some hints.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel
well while you are taking LIPITOR.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
All medicines have side effects. Sometimes they are serious but most
of the time they are not. You may need urgent medical treatment if you
get some of the side effects. Tell your doctor if you notice any of
the following and they worry you. They are mild side effects of LIPITOR:
constipation, diarrhoea, wind heartburn or indigestion stomach or belly
pain, nausea headache trouble sleeping.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department of your
nearest hospital if you notice any of the following. These are rare,
possibly serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention:
swelling of the face, lips, mouth throat or neck which may cause difficulty
in swallowing and breathing unexpected muscle pain tingling in the hands
or feet rash, itching.
Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.
Some people may get other side effects while taking LIPITOR. Do not
be alarmed by the list of side effects. You may not experience any of
them.
Storage
Keep your tablets in the packet until it is time to take them. If you
take the tablets out of the packet, they may not keep well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below
25 degrees C. Do not store LIPITOR or any other medicine in the bathroom
or near a sink. Do not leave your tablets in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep your tablets where young children cannot reach them.
A locked cupboard at least one and a half metres off the ground is a
good place to store medicines.
