What is this medicine used for?
Atorvastatin is indicated as an adjunct to diet for the treatment of patients with elevated total cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and triglycerides and to increase HDL-cholesterol in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia, combined hyperlipidemia, elevated serum triglycerides levels, and for patients with dysbetalipoproteinemia who do not respond adequately to diet.
Atorvastatin is also indicated for the reduction of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia when response to diet and other non-pharmacological measures are inadequate.
How much and how often should you use this medicine?
Before instituting therapy with atorvastatin, an attempt should be made to control hypercholesterolemia with appropriate diet, exercise and weight reduction in obese patients, and to treat underlying medical problems. The patient should continue on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet during treatment with atorvastatin. The dosage range is 10 to 80 mg once daily. Doses may be given any time of the day, with or without food. Starting and maintenance dosage should be individualized according to baseline LDL-C levels, the goal of therapy, and patient response. After initiation and/or upon titration of atorvastatin, lipid levels should be analyzed within 2 to 4 weeks, and dosage adjusted accordingly.
Contraindications
- Gemfibrozil and other fibric acid derivatives: increased risk of muscle pain and weakness
- Erythromycin, Clarithromycin: increased risk of muscle pain and weakness
- Niacin: increased risk of muscle pain and weakness
- Grapefruit juice: increased risk of muscle pain and weakness
- Nelfinavir, Ritonavir, Saquinavir: increased risk of liver damage
- Diagnosed with liver disease, rhabdomyolysis
Availability
- Atorvastatin 10 mg Tablet– box of 100’s (inalu-alu blister foil by 10’s)
- Atorvastatin 20 mg Tablet– box of 100’s (inalu-alu blister foil by 10’s)
- Atorvastatin 40 mg Tablet– box of 100’s (inalu-alu blister foil by 10’s)