Side effects
Call your physician right away if you have additionally: Side effects of atorvastatin (more information) For medical guidance on side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor right away if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if you also have a fever, unusual exhaustion, and dark urine. Typical negative effects of atorvastatin could be: If you experience any of the following symptoms of an atorvastatin allergy: hives, breathing difficulties, face, lip, tongue, or throat swelling, seek emergency medical attention. In rare cases, atorvastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, potentially leading to kidney failure. Other side effects could occur; this is not a comprehensive list. Call 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects to the FDA. joint pain, a runny nose or a sore throat; diarrhea; or pain in your arms or legs. muscle weakness in your hips, shoulders, neck, and back, difficulty lifting your arms, difficulty climbing, or trouble standing; liver problems—upper stomach pain, weakness, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice—or kidney problems—little to no urinating, ankle or foot swelling, feeling exhausted or short of breath.
Interactions
For more details, consult your physician or pharmacist. Tell your doctor right away if you take any of the following: oral contraceptives (birth control pills), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), efavirenz (Sustiva), clarithromycin (Biaxin), colchicine (Colcrys), digoxin (Lanoxin), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Taztia, Tiazac), erythro Inform your doctor about all of the medications you take, including any prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Contraindications
You have liver issues, are allergic to atorvastatin or any of its components, or it can pass into your breast milk and harm your unborn child. Atorvastatin has not been studied in children under 10 years of age. Your unborn child could be harmed by atorvastatin. Stop trying to conceive. If any of the following apply to you: you are expecting, suspect you may be expecting, or plan to become pregnant, avoid taking atorvastatin. Are breastfeeding, stop taking atorvastatin immediately if you become pregnant. If you get pregnant, stop taking atorvastatin right away and call your doctor. To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using this medication, it is crucial to speak with your doctor. A rare but serious risk associated with statin medications, such as atorvastatin, includes liver damage, memory loss, confusion, an increase in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), type 2 diabetes, and immune-mediated muscle breakdown. Some statins can also raise the risk of muscle weakness. Prior to starting any new medications, consult your doctor. A few medications, including atorvastatin, can interact with each other and cause serious side effects. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: We require a doctor’s prescription for this product. Lipitor 40 mg: Each tablet contains atorvastatin calcium equivalent to 40 mg atorvastatin. Atorvastatin calcium is a white to off-white crystalline powder, practically insoluble in aqueous solutions of pH 4 and below. The empirical formula of atorvastatin calcium is (C33H34FN2O5)2Ca?3H2O and its molecular weight is 1209.42.
Only limited data are available (see section 5.1). Each daily dose of atorvastatin is given all at once and may be given at any time of day with or without food. Patients should be started with atorvastatin 10 mg daily.
Never take a double dose unless your physician specifically directs you to do so. In rare cases, there might be major side effects and immediate medical attention must be sought. How can the drug interactions and side effects of Atorvastatin be minimized or completely avoided?
It belongs to a group of drugs known as “statins.” It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver.
Lipitor also increases HDL ("good") cholesterol, which protects against coronary artery disease and reduces the concentration of triglycerides (fats) in the blood. Niacin is thought to work by reducing the production of proteins that transport cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. In people with coronary artery disease, Lipitor prevents angina, stroke, heart attack, hospitalization for congestive heart failure, and revascularization procedures. Niacin also is used to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Nicain reduces LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increases HDL (“good”) cholesterol.