atorvastatin

What is the most important information I should know about atorvastatin?

What is atorvastatin?

Atorvastatin is used together with diet to lower blood levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL), to increase levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL), and to lower triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood).

Atorvastatin is used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in adults with or without type 2 diabetes or heart disease or other risk factors.

Atorvastatin is also used alone, or along with diet, or with other cholesterol-lowering medications in adults and children aged 10 years and older with an inherited condition that causes high levels of bad cholesterol.

Atorvastatin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking atorvastatin?

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

• muscle pain or weakness;
• diabetes;
• stroke;
• a thyroid disorder;
• a habit of drinking more than 2 alcoholic beverages per day; or
• kidney disease.

Atorvastatin can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure. This happens more often in women, in older adults, or people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

How should I take atorvastatin?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Do not change your dose or stop taking any of your medications without your doctor's advice.

Atorvastatin is usually taken once per day. Follow your doctor's instructions.

You may take atorvastatin tablet with or without food.

It may take up to 2 weeks before your cholesterol levels improve, and you may need frequent blood tests. Even if you have no symptoms, tests can help your doctor determine if this medicine is effective.

Your treatment may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and blood tests.

Throw away in the trash any unused liquid 60 days after opening the bottle.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if you are more than 12 hours late for the dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking atorvastatin?

Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol, or atorvastatin will not be as effective.

Grapefruit may interact with atorvastatin and cause side effects. Avoid consuming grapefruit products and drinking more than 1.2 liters of grapefruit juice each day.

What are the possible side effects of atorvastatin?

Muscle problems may be more likely in older adults and those who have kidney problems, thyroid problems, or take certain other medicines.

• muscle weakness in your hips, shoulders, neck, and back;
• trouble lifting your arms, trouble climbing or standing;
• liver problems --loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• kidney problems --swelling, urinating less, feeling tired or short of breath; or
• high blood sugar --increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor.

Common side effects may include:

• pain in your bones, spine, joints, or muscles;
• pain and burning when you urinate, painful urination;
• muscle spasms;
• upset stomach;
• trouble sleeping;
• stuffy nose, runny nose, sore throat;
• diarrhea, nausea; or
• pain in your arms or legs.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect atorvastatin?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which can increase risk of serious muscle problems or make the medicines less effective.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect atorvastatin, especially:

• other cholesterol lowering medicine--gemfibrozil, niacin, fenofibrate, fenofibric acid, and others;
• colchicine;
• antibiotic or antifungal medicine--rifampin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole;
• birth control pills;
• medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection; or
• antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect atorvastatin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about atorvastatin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 23.02. Revision date: 6/22/2023.