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What is 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.
How does Lipitor work?
Lipitor works by blocking an enzyme in the liver that your body uses to make cholesterol. When less cholesterol is produced, the liver takes up more cholesterol from the bloodstream. This results in lower levels of cholesterol circulating in your blood.
Lipitor is classified as a synthetic antihyperlipidemic that acts to lower lipid levels in the body by blocking its ability to synthesize cholesterol. The pharmaceutical agent works by specific inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) to mevalonate, an early step in cholesterol biosynthesis. By blocking cholesterol synthesis, Lipitor reduces the risk of heart disease and/or stroke. When response to diet and other non-drug measures alone are inadequate to reduce cholesterol levels, Lipitor is indicated to lower total and LDH cholesterol levels in primary hypercholesterolemia (types IIa and IIb). Side effects include diarrhea, gas, headache, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
What do I need to know about taking Lipitor?
Most people will require the starting dose, which is a 10 mg tablet once daily. Your doctor will determine the dose that is right for you, which may be 10 mg to 80 mg. Lipitor can be taken any time of the day, with or without food. The amount or how often Lipitor is taken should never be changed without consulting your healthcare professional
Who should not take Lipitor tablets?
Some people should not take Lipitor. Those with active liver disease or possible liver problems; women who are pregnant, could possibly become pregnant, or are breast-feeding; and people who are allergic to any of the ingredients in Lipitor.
Does Lipitor interact with any other drugs?
If you take Lipitor with certain other medicines, they may affect one another. Lipitor may interact with certain other cholesterol-lowering drugs, some antibiotics, and antifungal medications. It may also interact with less-frequently prescribed medications such as immunosuppressives (given after transplants). Be sure to tell your personal physican about all prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking.
What are the side effects?
Lipitor is generally well tolerated and side effects are usually mild. In studies, the most common side effects associated with Lipitor were constipation, flatulence, indigestion, and abdominal pain. If you are prescribed Lipitor your healthcare professional may want to conduct routine blood tests to check your liver function before and after starting treatment.
Be sure to tell your healthcare professional if you have any allergies to food or medication. Also, report promptly any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by discomfort or fever, as these symptoms may be signs of serious side effects.
For additional information about taking Lipitor along with other medicines, see your doctor. If you experience side effects, be sure to tell your doctor or other healthcare professional.
Are there any contraindicatons to taking Lipitor?
Individuals who have active liver disease or unexplained persistent elevations of serum transaminases should not take the medication. Concerning women of child bearing age, since the active ingredient in Lipitor, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, decrease cholesterol synthesis and possibly the synthesis of other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol, they may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women.Therefore, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are contraindicated during pregnancy and in nursing mothers. ATORVASTATIN SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED TO WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE ONLY WHEN SUCH PATIENTS ARE HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO CONCEIVE AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS. If the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, therapy should be discontinued and the patient apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. In addition, individuals that have any know hypersensitivity to any component of the medication should also refrain from taking Lipitor.
Generic Lipitor 20 mg price comparison
| Tablets |
Pharmacy |
Product |
Price |
Ship. |
Total |
Buy |
| 30 |
WorldExpressRX |
Generic Lipitor |
$50 |
$20 |
$70 |
 |
| 90 |
WorldExpressRX |
Generic Lipitor |
$130 |
$20 |
$150 |
|
| 180 |
WorldExpressRX |
Generic Lipitor |
$210 |
$20 |
$230 |
|
| 360 |
WorldExpressRX |
Generic Lipitor |
$375 |
$20 |
$395 |
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