Prescription:

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) is used to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. This drug is usually prescribed when lifestyle changes such as treatment with exercise, weight loss, and a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fats have not reduced cholesterol levels to target levels. They can be an important part of reducing your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Why is this drug prescribed?

Lipitor tablets contain the active ingredient atorvastatin, which is a type of drug called a statin. It works by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver. For the sake of simplicity, there are two sorts of cholesterol; a 'bad' sort called low density lipoprotein and a 'good' sort called high density lipoprotein. LDL is deposited in the arteries and increases the risk of heart disease by clogging and narrowing the arteries, while HDL actually protects the arteries against this. Atorvastatin decreases the production of LDL cholesterol by blocking the action of the enzyme in the liver that is responsible for its production. This decreases the amount of cholesterol in the liver cells, which causes them to take up LDL cholesterol from the blood. The decreased cholesterol production and increased removal of LDL cholesterol from the blood ultimately results in lowered blood cholesterol levels. As the body produces most cholesterol at night, statins are generally more effective if taken at night. Atorvastatin also causes a small decrease in the production of other 'bad fats' in the blood called triglycerides, and a small increase in the level of HDL cholesterol. This results in lowered levels of 'bad fats' and raised levels of 'good fats' in the blood. Statins have an important role in the prevention of coronary heart disease. They reduce the risk of excess cholesterol being deposited in the major blood vessels of the heart. Any blockage in the blood vessels limits the amount of blood and therefore oxygen being carried to the heart muscle. This can cause chest pain and in severe cases can result in a heart attack. Statins also reduce the risk of stroke by decreasing the risk of excess cholesterol being deposited in the blood vessels leading to the brain. These fat deposits can cause blockage and therefore limit blood and oxygen supply to certain parts of the brain. Atorvastatin is used to lower cholesterol and other bad fats in people who have high levels either due to genetics or as a result of diet and lifestyle. This helps to reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries and the problems described above that this can cause. Atorvastatin can also be used to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in people with diabetes, regardless of their cholesterol levels. It has been shown to reduce the risk of needing procedures to improve blood supply to the heart, such as a balloon dilation of an artery or a heart bypass graft. It also reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and death from heart disease. It is important to continue to follow a cholesterol-lowering diet and exercise regime while taking atorvastatin. Discuss this with your doctor.

Treatments

* High blood cholesterol levels * Inherited high blood cholesterol levels * High levels of any or all of the fats in the blood, such as cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins * Reducing the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes or needing heart bypass surgery, in people with diabetes who have at least one other risk factor smoking, high blood pressure, diabetic eye disease or diabetic kidney disease). The drug can be used for this purpose in people who don't currently have evidence of coronary heart disease, irrespective of what their cholesterol levels are.

What side effects can this drug cause?

* Headache * Difficulty in sleeping * Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain * Excess gas in the stomach and intestines * Muscle pain * Feeling of weakness * Dizziness * Chest pain * Decreased sensitivity to touch or pain, pins and needles sensations * Back pain, joint pain * Hair loss * Loss of appetite * Muscle cramps * Skin reactions such as rash and itch * Erectile dysfunction * Decrease in the number of blood cells called platelets in the blood * Weight gain * Memory loss * Liver disorders * Muscle disorders * Changes in blood sugar levels