What is Atorvastatin?
Lipitor, or Atorvastatin, is a prescription drug provided to patients who want to lower their cholesterol levels. It lowers the LDL-C and triglycerides inside the body and it can raise HDL-C levels. Lipitor is for adults and children are not allowed to take this form of medication. Lipitor can lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, chest pains and heart surgery. Patients who are suffering from heart disease will have reduced symptoms when taking in Lipitor. Along with the mentioned, other risks such as smoking, high blood pressure, kidney problems and eye problems can be reduced when using this drug.
How it affects cholesterol
Atorvastatin has a significant effect to cholesterol. Cholesterol is known as the fats found inside the body. They are naturally found inside the body and they are said to contain in foods. Human beings require a significant level of cholesterol in order to complete various processes inside the body. Yet, too much consumption of cholesterol can have a negative effect. Triglycerides are known to clog veins and blood vessels. It is also alters blood flow especially when patients are already suffering from other health conditions, diabetes, age or smoking.
Lipitor is not allowed to patients who are pregnant, planning to undergo pregnancy, and to lactating mothers. The breastfeed can pass the drug to the infant and can cause abnormal effects in his body. Patients who are having liver problems or those who are allergic to the drug are also not allowed to take it. Atorvastatin has been known to have a significant effect in the body and such changes can be positive or negative, depending on dosage. Patients who are using muscle aches, diabetes, thyroid problems or alcoholism should cease using the drug. Patients who are also using medications for immune deficiencies, infections, heart failure, HIV or other conditions should cease using the drug.
How Atorvastatin is taken
The drug is taken with Lipitor. Lipitor is first prescribed by the doctor and is ordered to patients. Doctors are first required to provide the proper blood tests in order to know the cholesterol levels of the patient. The dosage of the drug then depends on the results of the test. Lipitor is taken once a day and is provided same time for each day. It can be taken with or without the presence of food and patients no longer need to break the tablets before taking.
Of course, patients are also required to start a low fat based diet before taking Lipitor. If the patient misses a dosage, it is important to take the drug as soon as possible. Doctors require patients to not take the drug if they have missed more than 12 hours after last dose. Wait for a couple of hours and take the drug during regular schedule. It patient is suffering from Lipitor overdose patients are required to go to the hospital or to the nearest emergency facility right away. During usage, patients are not allowed to use vitamins, herbal supplements and nonprescription drugs. Patients should also cease from drinking alcohol.
Effects and proper dosage of atrovastitin
Atorvastatin is the main ingredient for Lipitor and it is an inhibitor of 3-hyroxy coenzyme A. This enzyme is known to convert HMG-CoA into mevalonate and it is known to have a significant effect in cholesterol production. Atrovastatin is a calcium power which is insoluble to various aqueous solutions. Lipitor tablets are offered to the public in 10, 20 and 80 mgs and they are often based on other inactive ingredients such as USB, candelilla, magnesium, sodium, crystalline cellulose and polysorbate 80.
Effects of Atorvastatin
One of the main effects of the drug is that it can trigger allergic reactions. Patients who are suffering from an allergic reaction from atorvastatin will have swelling in the lips, throat, tongue and nose and will have difficulty in breathing. Other side effects of the drug include muscle tenderness and pain, generalized weakness, swelling, weight gain, nausea, stomach ache, dark urine, jaundice and fever.
Therefore, patients are required to first be tested if they have an allergic reaction to the drug. Doctors are also required to provide patients with details about proper dosage and testing. Patients should stop using the drug if they will be using other medications for liver disease, kidneys and the heart. The drug should also not be taken before surgery or during birth. The drug can be passed through milk and it can be quite dangerous for infants. Lastly, patients should cease using alcoholic beverages since alcohols and atrovastatin can cause abnormal effects in the liver.
Indications for Atrovastatin
Atrovastatin is primarily used as a drug component used for treating atherosclerotic disease such as hypercholesterolemia. Drug therapy is required in some cases in order to restrict cholesterol from being metabolized in the body. In adult patients, Lipitor is known to reduce myocardial infarction, stroke, angina and retinopathy. It also reduces risk of hospitalization due to CHF and reduce angina. Lipitor is given through adjunct in diet for patients with hypercholesterolemia. It is also provided as adjunct to treating patients with elevated TG serum levels and for patients with hypercholesterolemia. The drug acts to reduce total LDL C in users with homozygous hypercholesterolemia treatments.
Proper dosage
The recommended dosage for Lipitor is 10 to 20 mg daily depending on doctor’s orders. Patients require large in LDL-C must use over 40mg daily. The dosage range allowed by major pharmaceutical groups is around 10 to about 80 mg daily. Atrovastitin is administered through a single dose per day, with or without meals. The starting dose and maintenance schedule depends on the patient’s characteristics and response. After first usage of the drug, lipid levels are checked in a 2 – 4 weeks schedule. Patients are required to use only 20 mg per day if they are going to use it as starting dose. This means that patients who are first starting using atrovastatin are only allowed up to 20 mg a day. The drug can also be used with acid resins and with combination to other reductase inhibitors. However, the drug is not given to patients using kidney based treatments or to women who will be giving birth.
Before using Atorvastatin
Patients should understand that taking atorvastatin can cause some serious effects in the body. Patients are required to monitor their health before they start taking this drug. Some serious side effects of using atorvastatin include muscle, liver and other bodily problems. Lipitor is known to cause serious muscle problems which can lead to other conditions. There is a high chance for muscle problems when taking in the drug. Along with muscle problems, patients are going to suffer from liver problems. It is important for patients to report right away if they will be suffering from loss of appetite, upper belly aches, dark urine and generalized weakness.
It has been reported that Lipitor has an effect in the skeletal muscles. Like other forms of statins, the drug is known to cause myopathy and increased creatine phosphokinase. Lipitor therapy should be stopped temporarily if patients are suffering from myopathy since extensive use can lead to hyptotension, trauma and electrolyte disorders as well as uncontrolled seizures. Usage of atorvastatin should also be withheld if patient is suffering from abnormalities in liver function. Patients associated with signs of jaundice will often have liver problems and the use of the drug can have a negative effect in liver function. It is indicated that over 18 of 30 patients will suffer from increased elevations of LFT due to dosage of the drug.
Endocrine and CNS Toxicity
Along with myopathy, patients who are suffering from cholesterol synthesis interference will also have abnormal steroid production. Clinical studies found out that Lipitor users have decreased levels of activity in steroid hormones and have problems in Endocrine function. There is also a sign of CNS toxicity over overexposure to Lipitor. Therefore, it is important to use only the proper dosage.
Pregnant and lactating mothers
Women who are planning to have their pregnancy should cease the use of the drug since Lipitor is known to prevent pregnancy. Patients who will be taking the drug can pass down atorvastatin to their newborn through breast milk. Patients who are suffering from lipid disorder should utilize other forms of medications since the drug can have a negative effect to the infant.
During pregnancy, triglyceride and serum cholesterol levels can increase. Cholesterol is needed for fetal development and decreasing its levels can have a negative effect to the baby. In a study conducted by various researchers, atrovastatin is known to pass through rat placenta and it reaches fetal liver and plasma. The study concluded that infants can be exposed to the toxicity brought about by the medication. Statins are known to cause fetal harm to women. Over 40 to 50% of the drug can be passed through as breast milk. Patients under 10 to 17 years are required to have controlled clinical trials before utilizing high dosages of the drug. Both adults and children who will be using the drug are first tested for kidney problems and for infection before they are provided with the drug. Atorvastatin also has a significant effect to patients with HIV or AIDs. Therefore, patients with such conditions are not allowed to use the drug.