Atorlip-40 (Atorvastatin 40mg)

Atorlip general information

What is Atorlip used for?

Atorlip 40mg is used to lower high levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood and reduce risk of heart disease that can be caused by high cholesterol. Atorlip 40 lowers levels of total cholesterol as well as reducing “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause arteries to become hardened and blocked, and also increases levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries. Atorlip 40 is used, in conjunction with a low-fat diet, to treat patients at risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) or patients with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia), inherited or due to lifestyle (high-fat diet, obesity and lack of exercise), who have not responded to a low-fat diet and lifestyle changes alone.

How does Atorlip work?

Atorlip 40mg contains atorvastatin which belongs to a group of cholesterol-lowing medications called statins. Atorvastatin reduces the production of cholesterol by the liver by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis. Atorlip 40 only blocks cholesterol that is produced in the liver and has no effect on cholesterol that comes from fat in food, which is why a low-fat diet is important even when you are taking Atorlip 40mg. In most cases there are no symptoms for high cholesterol, but using Atorlip 40mg to lower blood cholesterol reduces your risk of heart disease.

What Atorlip doses are available?

Atorlip tablets are available to order and buy online from Inhouse Pharmacy in doses of 10mg, 20mg and 40mg as packs of 30 tablets.

What does Atorlip contain?

Atorlip 40mg tablets contain the active ingredient atorvastatin 40mg, which is a cholesterol-lowing medication belonging to the group of drugs called statins.

Lowering cholesterol with Atorlip

Atorlip 40mg contains the cholesterol-lowing statin medication atorvastatin, which reduces the production of cholesterol by the liver by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis. Atorlip 40mg lowers levels of total cholesterol as well as reducing “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause arteries to become hardened and blocked, and also increases levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries. Using Atorlip 40mg to lower blood cholesterol reduces your risk of heart disease.

Treating high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) with Atorlip

Atorlip 40mg, contains the cholesterol-lowing statin medication atorvastatin, used to treat high cholesterol which can increase risk of heart disease. Although some cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions such as building cell membranes, producing certain hormones and transporting fat soluble vitamins around the body, if there is more cholesterol than the body needs, it becomes deposited in the artery walls where it can build up, blocking the arteries and increasing risk of heart disease. Atorlip 40mg is used to lower high levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood, by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver where it inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.

Effects of alcohol and grapefruit on Atorlip

If you drink large quantities of alcohol, you may increase the risk of liver problems when taking Atorlip. Grapefruit juice in large quantities (more than one litre a day) can also increase risk of side effects as it increases the amount of Atorlip that gets into your blood.

What are the side effects of Atorlip?

Atorlip 40mg tablets are generally well tolerated but it is always possible that you may experience side effects. The more common side effect include: constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, headache and dizziness.
More serious side effects are less common and may include:

• muscle ache, tenderness or weakness, not caused by exercise
• tingling in the hands or feet
• insomnia
• fever
• skin rash, itchiness
• hives
• painful, swollen joints
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes)
• anaemia

What medications interact with Atorlip?

• Drugs that increase risk of side effects when taking Atorlip 40mg: macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, HIV protease inhibitor, such as ritonavir, itraconazole and ketoconazole use to treat fungal infection
• Drugs that interact with Atorlip 40mg: other cholesterol lowering medication such as gemfibrozil, cyclosporin, used to suppress the immune system, verapamil or diltiazem, medicines used to treat high blood pressure, angina, or other heart conditions, amiodarone, used to treat irregular heart beat, anticoagulants such as warfarin
• Drugs that are affected by Atorlip 40mg: Digoxin, for heart failure, oral contaceptives

When should Atorlip not be used?

You should not use Atorlip if you:

• are allergic or have a hypersensitivity to atorvastatin or to any of the other ingredients of Atorlip 40mg tablets
• have active liver disease
• are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breast-feeding
• taking other medication that interacts with Atorlip, including, macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, ritonavir for itraconazole and ketoconazole use to treat fungal infection, cyclosporin, used to suppress the immune system, cardiac glycosides like digoxin, antacids for indigestion, anticoagulants such as coumarin verapamil or diltiazem, medicines used to treat high blood pressure, angina, or other heart conditions, amiodarone, used to treat irregular heart beat.

How should Atorlip be taken?

You should take Atorlip 40mg tablets with a glass of water once a day, preferably in the evening after your evening meal, although you can take Atorlip with or without food. Atorlip 40 is most effective at night when your body is at resting and your liver is producing the most cholesterol. The dose you take and for how long should be as recommended by your doctor.

How long should you take Atorlip?

Atorlip 40mg tablets helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high and if you stop taking Atorlip, your cholesterol levels may rise again. Therefore you may need to take Atorlip for the rest of your life, if recommended by your doctor.

Missed dose of Atorlip

If you miss a dose of Atorlip 40mg tablets take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Atorlip be stored?

Keep your Atorlip 40mg tablets in the blister packs provided, do not remove them or they will not keep. Store Atorlip 40 in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C