Lipitor (Generic)

Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is used with diet changes to reduce the amount of cholesterol and certain fatty substances in your blood. Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries is responsible for choking blood flow and oxygen supply to your heart, brain and other parts of your body. Lowering level of cholesterol and fats may help to prevent medical conditions like heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes and heart attacks. To know more about the uses of Lipitor, you will need to speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Atorvastatin comes in form of a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken once a day. When you are taking Atorvastatin, it is strongly recommended that you understand and follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. You should not increase or decrease the dose or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take Atorvastatin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Atorvastatin without talking to your doctor. The doctor may decrease your dose gradually.

Consult your doctor about the possible side effects of using this drug for your condition. Lipitor may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Inform your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking Lipitor.

In case of overdose, you need to call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 and local emergency services at 911.

It is very important to know as how this medication affects you. Your doctor will order certain lab tests before and during treatment to check your response to Atorvastatin. You need to keep all appointments with your doctor. Avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight. Wear protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen. Take care to see that no one should take your medication. Always consult your pharmacist if you have any questions about refilling your prescription.

Eat a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet. This kind of diet includes cottage cheese, fat-free milk, fish (not canned in oil), vegetables, poultry, egg whites, and polyunsaturated oils and margarines (corn, safflower, canola, and soybean oils). Avoid foods with excess fat in them such as meat (especially liver and fatty meat), egg yolks, whole milk, cream, butter, shortening, lard, pastries, cakes, cookies, gravy, peanut butter, chocolate, olives, potato chips, coconut, cheese (other than cottage cheese), coconut oil, palm oil, and fried foods.

If you missed a dose then you could take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, then you could skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. It is strongly recommended that you do not take a double dose of Lipitor to make up for a missed one. The victim could collapse or stop breathing in case of overdose.

Lipitor should be stored at room temperature. It should be kept away from excess heat and moisture. Hence, should not be stored in the bathroom. Lipitor should be kept in the container it came in only. The container should be kept tightly closed and out of reach of children. If the medicine become outdated or you are no longer taking it then you need to discard it safely. Consult your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

If you are taking Lipitor, make sure with your doctor that you not are allergic to Lipitor or any other drugs. Inform your doctor and pharmacist about prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking, especially antacids; antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); digoxin (Lanoxin); erythromycin; medications that suppress the immune system such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); other cholesterol-lowering medications such as cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid), gemfibrozil (Lopid) and niacin (nicotinic acid) and vitamins. Inform your doctor if you have or had any liver or kidney disease, a severe infection, low blood pressure, or seizures.

Before taking Lipitor inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Lipitor, stop taking Lipitor and inform your doctor immediately as Lipitor can harm the fetus. In addition, if you are having surgery, including dental surgery then tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Lipitor. Alcohol may increase the side effects caused by Lipitor. Hence, if you take alcohol then consult with your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while taking this drug.