Atorvastatin - Common brands: Lipitor

What atorvastatin is for

Atorvastatin is used to treat high cholesterol. Having high cholesterol can cause problems with your heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease).

It's a type of cholesterol-lowering medicine called a statin.

Atorvastatin can help:

• bring your cholesterol levels down if you have high cholesterol
• prevent angina, heart attack, stroke and other complications if you have cardiovascular disease

You may also be prescribed atorvastatin if you have:

• diabetes
• kidney disease
• familial hypercholesterolaemia (a condition that can cause high cholesterol)

How to take atorvastatin

Atorvastatin usually comes as tablets or a liquid (oral suspension) that you swallow.

How much you need to take depends on why you're taking it. Your doctor may prescribe a low dose to start with and then increase it, if needed, after 4 weeks.

Always check the packet or leaflet that comes with your medicine. Ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice if you're not sure how to take it or have any problems taking it.

If you have tablets, check the packet to see whether they are chewable or not.

When taking atorvastatin:

• swallow tablets whole with some water – chewable tablets can be chewed, or swallowed whole with some water
• for the liquid, use the syringe or spoon that comes with it to measure the correct dose
• take it once a day – try to take it at the same time each day
• take it with or without food

You usually need to take atorvastatin for a long time, sometimes for life.

If you miss a dose of atorvastatin

If you forget to take a dose of atorvastatin, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose at the usual time.

Do not take 2 doses to make up for a missed dose.

If you take too much atorvastatin

Taking an extra dose of atorvastatin is unlikely to cause problems, but it's important to get medical advice if you take too much as it can sometimes be dangerous.

Side effects of atorvastatin

Like all medicines, atorvastatin can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

Common side effects of atorvastatin include:

• headache
• dizziness
• feeling sick (nausea)
• digestive problems, such as constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion or farting
• muscle aches and swollen joints
• blocked or runny nose, or nosebleeds
• sleep problems

Atorvastatin will not usually affect your ability to drive, ride a bike or use machinery, but if you feel dizzy after taking it, wait until the dizziness stops.

Serious side effects

Atorvastatin can sometimes cause serious side effects, although most of them are rare.

Possible serious side effects of atorvastatin include:

• inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), which can cause yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes – yellowed skin may be less noticeable if you have brown or black skin
• inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can cause severe stomach pain
• inflammation and damage to the muscles, which can cause muscle cramps, severe pain and weakness – you may also have other symptoms such as a high temperature and red or brown pee
• an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), which can cause symptoms such as a swollen throat or tongue, a raised, itchy rash or difficulty breathing

Who can and cannot take atorvastatin

Most adults can take atorvastatin.

It's sometimes also prescribed for children aged 10 years or older.

But atorvastatin is not suitable for everyone. For example, it may not be suitable if:

• you've had an allergic reaction or other serious side effects from atorvastatin or another statin
• you have liver or kidney problems, or an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• you or a close family member have a condition that affects the muscles, such as myasthenia gravis
• you've had a bleed in the brain
• you regularly drink a lot of alcohol

Before taking atorvastatin, tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions.

Breastfeeding and atorvastatin

You may be able to take atorvastatin while breastfeeding, but check with a pharmacist or doctor first.

It's rare for breastfed babies to get any side effects from medicine you're taking, but speak to a healthcare professional if you have any concerns about your baby.

Pregnancy and atorvastatin

Tell your doctor if you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Atorvastatin is not recommended during pregnancy because it can affect how your baby develops.

If you're planning to get pregnant, stop taking atorvastatin 3 months before you start trying to conceive.

Find out more about taking statins during pregnancy on the Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) website

Taking atorvastatin with other medicines, food and drink

There are some medicines, remedies and supplements that may not mix well with atorvastatin.

This includes:

• other medicines for lowering cholesterol, such as fibrates
• antifungal medicines, such as itraconazole or fluconazole
• antibiotics such as fusidic acid, erythromycin and clarithromycin
• medicines for viral infections including HIV and hepatitis C
• medicines for high blood pressure or heart disease, such as diltiazem or verapamil
• ciclosporin, a medicine given after an organ transplant
• warfarin, a medicine to prevent blood clots
• St John's wort, a herbal supplement

Before taking atorvastatin, tell your doctor if you're taking any other medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

Food, drink and alcohol with atorvastatin

You can eat as normal while taking atorvastatin, but avoid having too much grapefruit juice as it can increase the chance of side effects. Do not have more than 1 or 2 small glasses of grapefruit juice a day.

Also, try to limit how much alcohol you drink while taking atorvastatin, as it can increase the risk of side effects like liver problems.