|
What is the most important information I should know about
Atorvastatin?
* Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated
with the use of Atorvastatin and other similar medicines. Contact
your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain,
tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or
flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain,
unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools.
These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.
* Do not take Atorvastatin without first talking to your doctor
if you have liver disease.
* Alcohol and Atorvastatin 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.
* Do not take Atorvastatin if you are pregnant, could become pregnant
during treatment, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.
What is Atorvastatin?
* Atorvastatin is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. Atorvastatin
blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.
* Atorvastatin is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol,
total cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein
B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. Atorvastatin
is also used to increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in
your blood. These actions are important in reducing the risk of
hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke,
and peripheral vascular disease.
* Atorvastatin may also be used for purposes other than those listed
in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before
taking Atorvastatin?
* Do not take Atorvastatin without first talking to your doctor
if you have liver disease.
* Before taking Atorvastatin, tell your doctor if you
o drink alcoholic beverages,
o have a chronic muscular disease,
o require major surgery, or
o have a blood disorder.
* You may not be able to take Atorvastatin, or you may require a
dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you
have any of the conditions listed above.
* Atorvastatin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that
Atorvastatin is known to cause birth defects if it is taken during
pregnancy. Do not take Atorvastatin if you are pregnant or could
become pregnant during treatment.
* It is not known whether Atorvastatin passes into breast milk.
Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor
if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take Atorvastatin?
* Take Atorvastatin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you
do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse,
or doctor to explain them to you.
* Take each dose with a full glass of water.
* Atorvastatin can be taken with or without food.
* Atorvastatin is usually taken once a day. Try to take your dose
at the same time each day. Follow your doctor's instructions.
* Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood
tests before starting treatment with Atorvastatin, at twelve weeks
after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose,
and periodically (every 6 months) thereafter. Depending on the results
of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you
will require.
* Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Atorvastatin.
The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss
the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do
not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your
diet without first talking to your doctor.
* Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To realize beneficial effects
from Atorvastatin, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.
* It is important to take Atorvastatin regularly to get the most
benefit.
* Do not stop taking Atorvastatin without first talking to your
doctor. Atorvastatin may need to be taken on a long-term basis for
the treatment of high cholesterol.
* Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical
evaluations during treatment with Atorvastatin to monitor progress
and side effects.
* Store Atorvastatin at room temperature away from moisture and
heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
* Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it
is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take
only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose
of this medication.
What happens if I overdose?
* Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
* The symptoms of an Atorvastatin overdose are not known.
What should I avoid while taking Atorvastatin?
* Alcohol and Atorvastatin 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 Atorvastatin.
The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss
the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do
not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your
diet without first talking to your doctor.
What are the possible side effects of Atorvastatin?
* Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated
with the use of Atorvastatin and other similar medicines. Contact
your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain,
tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or
flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain,
unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools.
These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.
* If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking Atorvastatin and seek emergency medical attention or contact
your doctor immediately:
o an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
o decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or
o blurred vision.
* Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take Atorvastatin and talk to your doctor if you experience
o headache;
o upset stomach or flatulence; or
o a rash.
* Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk
to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that
is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Atorvastatin?
* Do not take Atorvastatin without first talking to your doctor
if you are taking any of the following medicines:
o cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
o gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);
o niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
o erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin
(Biaxin);
o cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
o hormonal birth control (pills, patches, or implants); or
o an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole
(Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral).
* You may not be able to take Atorvastatin, or you may require a
dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you
are taking any of the medicines listed above.
* Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Atorvastatin.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription
or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and
herbal products.
|
30 Pills 
$20.00 
RSS