In persons who have heart disease or who are at risk of developing heart disease, atorvastatin is taken in conjunction with diet, weight loss, and exercise to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke and to lower the likelihood that heart surgery will be required. In addition, atorvastatin is used to raise levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, popularly known as “good cholesterol,” and to lower levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), generally known as “bad cholesterol,” in the blood. Children and teens with familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia, aged 10 to 17, can also take atorvastatin to lower their blood’s levels of cholesterol and other fatty compounds (an inherited condition in which cholesterol cannot be removed from the body normally). A class of drugs known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors includes atorvastatin (statins). It functions by reducing the amount of cholesterol that may accumulate on the artery walls and obstruct blood flow to the heart, brain, and other organs of the body. This is done by delaying the body’s creation of cholesterol.

Your heart, brain, and other organs of your body receive less oxygen as a result of the buildup of cholesterol and fats along the artery walls (a condition known as atherosclerosis). The prevention of heart disease, angina (chest discomfort), strokes, and heart attacks has been demonstrated to occur when atorvastatin is used to lower blood levels of cholesterol and fats.

Atorvastatin is available as an oral tablet. Typically, it is taken once day, with or without food. Atorvastatin should be taken every day at about the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Atropine should be taken exactly as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Your doctor can prescribe you a modest dose of atorvastatin to start, and then gradually raise it once every two to four weeks, if necessary.

Even if you feel good, keep taking atorvastatin. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking atorvastatin.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking atorvastatin,

• If you have an allergy to atorvastatin, any other drugs, or any of the substances in atorvastatin tablets, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products that you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: Oral contraceptives (birth control pills), other cholesterol-lowering drugs like fenofibrate, boceprevir (Victrelis), cimetidine (Tagamet), clarithromycin (Biaxin), cobicistat-containing drugs (Stribild), colchicine (Colcrys), digoxin (Lanoxin), efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla), and antifungal drugs like itraconazole (S (Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid) and niacin (nicotinic acid, Niacor, Niaspan); some HIV protease inhibitors like darunavir (Prezista), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), lopinavir (in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), saquinavir (Invirase), and tip (Incivek). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects. Tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking, even any not on this list, as other medications may also interact with atorvastatin.
• In case you have liver problems, let your doctor know. Even if you do not believe you have liver disease, your doctor will still conduct tests to see how well your liver is functioning. If you have liver disease, have ever had liver illness, or if testing indicate you might be developing liver disease, your doctor will likely advise against using atorvastatin.
• Inform your doctor if you consume more than two alcoholic beverages per day, are 65 years of age or older, have ever had liver illness, experience muscle pain or weakness, have diabetes, epilepsy, low blood pressure, thyroid or kidney disease, or any of the other conditions listed above.
• If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant, let your doctor know. If you are using atorvastatin, you shouldn’t get pregnant. Consult your physician about birth control options you can take while undergoing therapy. If you become pregnant while taking atorvastatin, notify your doctor right away and stop taking the medication. The foetus could be harmed by atorvastatin.
• While using this medicine, do not breastfeed.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking atorvastatin if you are undergoing surgery, including dental surgery. Inform the medical professional treating you that you are taking atorvastatin if you end up in the hospital as a result of a major injury or infection.
• Inquire with your doctor if drinking alcohol is okay for you to do so while taking atorvastatin. Drinking alcohol can make major side effects more likely.

Consume a diet low in fat and cholesterol. Make sure to abide by all dietary and exercise advice given to you by your physician or nutritionist. For more dietary advice, you can also refer to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) website .

When using atorvastatin, refrain from consuming more than 1.2 litres (about 1 quart) of grapefruit juice each day.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. Nevertheless, omit the missed dose and go on with your regular dosing schedule if there are less than 12 hours until your next scheduled dose. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

There may be adverse consequences from atorvastatin. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Gas
• Aching joints
• Loss of memory or forgetfulness
• Confusion

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Although the following signs are uncommon, you should seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of them:

• Weakness, tenderness, or discomfort in the muscles
• Not enough energy
• Fever
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Extreme fatigue
• Weakness
• Uncommon bruising or bleeding
• Reduced appetite
• Upper right stomach region discomfort
• Flu-like signs
• Urine with a dark colour
• The skin or eyes turning yellow
• Rash
• Hives
• Itching
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Swelling of the lower legs, hands, feet, ankles, or face, neck, tongue, lips, eyes, or mouth
• Hoarseness

Other negative effects of atorvastatin are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. During your therapy, your doctor could request specific lab tests, particularly if you start to experience symptoms of liver damage.

Inform the lab staff and your doctor that you are taking atorvastatin prior to any laboratory test.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.