Lipitor (Atorvastatin 20mg) Tablets

Lipitor general information

What is Lipitor used for?

Lipitor tablets 20mg are used to treat primary hypercholesterolaemia (high total cholesterol and triglycerides) and mixed dyslipidaemia (either elevated cholesterol or triglycerides) to lower high levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood to reduce risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) that can be caused by high cholesterol.  There are usually no symptoms for high cholesterol, which may be due to lifestyle (high-fat diet and lack of exercise) or can be inherited (familial hypercholesterolaemia).  Lipitor tablets 20mg are used in the absence of symptoms in conjunction with a low-fat diet, if diet alone is not sufficient to lower cholesterol levels.  Lipitor 20 is also used to prevent cardiovascular disease and the progression of CHD, if symptoms are already present; also if risk factors for CHD are present including high blood pressure, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or history of stroke, to reduce the risk of stroke, angina or heart attack.  

How does Lipitor work?

Lipitor tablets 20mg contain atorvastatin which belongs to a group of cholesterol-lowing medications called statins that is used to treat hypercholesterolaemia to lower high cholesterol levels in the blood.  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.  However, 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 causing hardened areas called plaque, which increases risk of heart disease.  Atorvastatin in Lipitor-20 reduces the production of cholesterol by the liver by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.  Cholesterol is released into the blood as low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) to distribute cholesterol around the body; high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) picks up excess cholesterol from the arteries and returns it to the liver to be disposed of or re-used.  Atorvastatin in Lipitor-20 lowers levels of LDL-C, which is known as the “bad” cholesterol as it can cause blocked arteries, and also increases levels of HDL-C, which is known as the “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries.  Lipitor-20 only inhibits production of cholesterol that is synthesised 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 Lipitor-20.  

What does Lipitor contain?

Lipitor tablets 20mg contain the active ingredient atorvastatin, a cholesterol-lowing medication belonging to the group of drugs called statins and used to treat hypercholesterolaemia to lower high cholesterol levels in the blood.  They also contain calcium carbonate, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, croscarmellose sodium, polysorbate 80, hyprolose, Magnesium stearate, Opadry White YS-1-7040, Simethicone emulsion.

Treating high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) with Lipitor

Lipitor tablets 20mg are used to treat high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia), which can increase risk of heart disease.  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.  However, 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 causing hardened areas called plaque, which increases risk of heart disease.  Lipitor-20 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.  Lipitor-20 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 Lipitor-20.  

Lowering Cholesterol with Lipitor

Lipitor tablets 20mg contain the cholesterol-lowing statin medication atorvastatin, which is used to lower levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood to reduce health risks associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), including heart attack, angina and stroke that can be caused by high cholesterol.  Atorvastatin in Lipitor-20 reduces the production of cholesterol by the liver by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.  Lipitor-20 lowers levels of “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.  There are usually no symptoms when you have high cholesterol, which may be due to lifestyle (high-fat diet and lack of exercise) or can be inherited. 

Effects of alcohol and grapefruit on Lipitor

Alcohol if drunk is large quantities may increase the risk of liver problems when taking Lipitor-20.  Grapefruit juice in large quantities (more than one litre a day) can also increase risk of side effects as it increases the amount of Lipitor-20 that gets into your blood. 

What are the side effects of Lipitor?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Lipitor tablets 20mg include constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, headache and dizziness, infections like nasopharyngitis (the common cold) and urinary tract infection, muscle ache, tenderness or weakness, not caused by exercise, painful, swollen joints, epistaxis (nosebleeds), hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar).

When should Lipitor not be used?

You should not use Lipitor tablets 20mg if you:

• are allergic to atorvastatin or any ingredients in Lipitor
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have active or history of liver disease
• have pre-disposing factors for rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) like personal or familial history of hereditary muscular disorders, hypothyroidism, history of muscular toxicity with a statin or fibrate
• are being treated for hepatitis C with antiviral medication
• are taking medicines that interact with Lipitor including: macrolide antibiotics like clarithromycin and erythromycin, the antibiotic fusidic acid, ritonavir for HIV, the antifungals itraconazole and ketoconazole, other cholesterol lowering medication such as gemfibrozil, the immunosuppressant cyclosporin, digoxin for heart failure, antacids for indigestion, anticoagulants like warfarin, calcium channel blockers for hypertension and heart conditions like verapamil or diltiazem, the antiarrhythmic amiodarone, some contraceptives like norethindrone and ethinyl oestradiol

What medications interact with Lipitor?

Several medications interact with Lipitor tablets 20mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Lipitor or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Lipitor: macrolide antibiotics like clarithromycin and erythromycin, the antibiotic fusidic acid, ritonavir for HIV, the antifungals itraconazole and ketoconazole
• Drugs that affect Lipitor: other cholesterol lowering medication such as gemfibrozil, anticoagulants like warfarin, calcium channel blockers for hypertension and heart conditions like verapamil or diltiazem, the antiarrhythmic amiodarone, antacids for indigestion
• Drugs that are affected by Lipitor: digoxin for heart failure, some contraceptives like norethindrone and ethinyl oestradiol

How should Lipitor be taken?

You should take your Lipitor tablets 20mg swallowed whole with a glass of water once a day, preferably in the evening after your evening meal, although you can take Lipitor with or without food.  Lipitor 20 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.  You should continue to take Lipitor tablets 20mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life as Lipitor-20 helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high and if you stop taking Lipitor-20, your cholesterol levels may rise again.

How long should you take Lipitor?

You should continue to take Lipitor tablets 20mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life as Lipitor-20 helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high and if you stop taking Lipitor-20, your cholesterol levels may rise again.

Missed dose of Lipitor

If you miss a dose of Lipitor tablets 20mg 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 Lipitor be stored?

You should store your Lipitor tablets 20mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.