LIPITOR
Lipitor is a prescription drug in one of the newest classes of
cholesterol-lowering medications, called statins. These drugs have been used widely for the last 5 years. For people
with high cholesterol, Lipitor, in combination with a low-fat diet, can reduce your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells.
It is normal to have cholesterol, in fact, cholesterol is an important part of a healthy body because it is used to
form cell membranes; hormones and other needed tissues. However, too high a level of cholesterol in the blood is a major
risk for coronary heart disease.
Lipitor is a safe, FDA approved, prescription medication that can naturally reduce the levels of cholesterol.
Lipitor blocks a key enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, which is responsible for the formation of cholesterol.
GENERIC LIPITOR functions the same way as Lipitor, but at a lower cost. To learn more about generic Lipitor,
please follow the information we have provided below.
Mechanism of action
Generic Lipitor lowers cholesterol by blocking an enzyme in the liver that your body uses to make cholesterol. When less
cholesterol is produced, the liver takes up more of it from the bloodstream. This results in lower levels circulating
in your blood.
Generic Lipitor lowers LDL "bad" cholesterol levels in the blood. LDL cholesterol sometimes sticks to the walls of your
arteries and can slow or clog the flow of blood. If you have high cholesterol, lowering your LDL level is important.
Generic Lipitor also increases the level of HDL "good" cholesterol in the blood. HDL cholesterol helps get rid of
the extra cholesterol in your blood.
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Atorvastatin side effects
Lipitor is a newer cholesterol lowering agent. Like most drugs there is a
large list of potential problems. However, in general there are very few problems with the class of HMG CoA
Reductase Inhibitors and generic Lipitor in particular. This is because it inhibits one specific enzyme in the liver
responsible for cholesterol metabolism. Regular blood checks should be done to look for elevated liver enzymes and the
drug stopped if this occurs. Occasional patients have inflamed muscles the major symptom being pain, soreness, etc.
This is also a contraindication to taking the drug. Occasional patients have isolated problems here and there, but in
general it is a very safe, tolerated drug
.
Generic Lipitor is generally well-tolerated. The side effects reported most often are gas, stomach pain, indigestion,
and constipation. These side effects are usually mild and temporary.
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Dosage and administration of Generic Lipitor
The patient should be placed on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet before
receiving atorvastatin and should continue on this diet during treatment with
generic Lipitor.
Hypercholesterolemia (Heterozygous Familial and Nonfamilial) and Mixed Dyslipidemia (Fredrickson Types IIa and
IIb)
The recommended starting dose of generic Lipitor is 10 mg once daily. The dosage range is 10 to 80 mg once daily.
Atorvastatin can be administered as a single dose at any time of the day, with or without food. Therapy should be
individualized according to goal of therapy and response (see NCEP Guidelines, summarized in TABLE 3). After
initiation and/or upon titration of atorvastatin, lipid levels should be analyzed within 2 to 4 weeks and dosage
adjusted accordingly.
Since the goal of treatment is to lower LDL-C, the NCEP recommends that LDL-C levels be used to initiate and assess
treatment response. Only if LDL-C levels are not available, should total-C be used to monitor therapy.
Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
The dosage of generic Lipitor in patients with homozygous FH is 10 to 80 mg daily. Atorvastatin should be used as an
adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g., LDL apheresis) in these patients or if such treatments are unavailable.
Concomitant Therapy
Generic Lipitor may be used in combination with a bile acid binding resin for additive effect. The combination of
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and fibrates should generally be avoided (see WARNINGS, Skeletal Muscle and DRUG INTERACTIONS
for other drug-drug interactions).
Dosage in Patients with Renal Insufficiency
Renal disease does not affect the plasma concentrations nor LDL-C reduction of atorvastatin; thus, dosage adjustment
in patients with renal dysfunction is not necessary.
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