Atorvastatin and pregnancy
Atorvastatin is not recommended during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking atorvastatin, stop taking the medicine and tell your doctor.
Talk to your doctor if you are trying to get pregnant. Whether you continue to take atorvastatin or not depends on your reason for taking it. It may be possible to switch to an alternative medicine that is better during pregnancy. Sometimes it may be better to keep taking atorvastatin until you have a positive pregnancy test and then stop.
Atorvastatin and breastfeeding
It might be OK to take atorvastatin while breastfeeding, but you might also be advised to stop taking your medicine until you are no longer breastfeeding. Your doctor or pharmacist will help you decide.
It's not yet known how much atorvastatin passes into breast milk, but it's likely to be a very small amount. It is unlikely to cause any side effects in your baby, or affect their cholesterol.
If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or not putting on weight as you would expect, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor, midwife or doctor as soon as possible.
Atorvastatin and fertility
There's no clear evidence to suggest that taking atorvastatin will reduce fertility in either men or women.
However, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant.
Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:
- trying to get pregnant
- pregnant
- breastfeeding