Lipitor (Atorvastatin) information
Lipitor is a safe and FDA approved prescription medication that
can naturally reduce the levels of cholesterol in your body.
Usage:
Lipitor blocks the production of cholesterol in your
body. Lipitor is used to reduce the amounts of LDL cholesterol,
total cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein
B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. Lipitor
is also used to increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in
your blood. These actions are important in reducing the risk of
hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke,
and peripheral vascular disease.
Side Effects
If you experience any of the following serious side
effects, stop taking Lipitor / Atorvastatin and seek emergency
medical attention or call your doctor immediately: an allergic
reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling
of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); muscle aches, pain,
or weakness; "flu-like" symptoms; decreased urine or
rust-colored urine; blurred vision; or yellowing of your skin
or eyes. Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to
occur. Continue to take Lipitor and talk to your doctor if you
experience headache; upset stomach or flatulence; or a rash. Side
effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially
bothersome.
Precautions when using Lipitor
Alcohol and Lipitor can both damage your liver. Discuss
with your doctor the amount of alcohol that you drink so that
it can be determined if Lipitor is the best choice for lowering
your cholesterol. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact
with Lipitor. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous
effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with
your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit
products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
Lipitor Interactions:
Do not take Lipitor without first talking to your doctor
if you are taking any of the following medicines: cyclosporine
(Sandimmune, Neoral); gemfibrozil (Lopid); niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid,
Nicotinex, others); clarithromycin (Biaxin); erythromycin (E-Mycin,
E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Ilotycin, Eryc, PCE, Ilosone, others); or fluconazole
(Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Nizoral).
The medications listed above interact with Lipitor and may cause
damage your muscles. Before taking Lipitor, tell your doctor if
you are taking any of the following medicines: other cholesterol-lowering
drugs such as cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
or digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps). You may require a dosage adjustment
or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of
the medicines listed above. Drugs other than those listed here
may also interact with Lipitor. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist
before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
If you take too much: Seek emergency medical attention. The symptoms
of an overdose of Lipitor are not known.
Missed Dose:
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However,
if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose
and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take
a double dose of this medication.
Storage
Store Lipitor at room temperature away from moisture
and heat. Keep all medications out of reach of children.
| Lipitor and cholesterol - more information (will
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Lipitor
- Pfizer
The manufacturer of Lipitor, Pfizer, has created this information
site which covers the drug itself, cholesterol, heart disease,
prescribing information, using Lipitor and avoiding counterfeit
Lipitor. From the site: "Lipitor is the #1 prescribed
cholesterol-lowering drug in the United States. Over 18 million
Americans have been prescribed Lipitor to help them lower
high cholesterol.It doesn't matter if you are active or thin,
young or old, high cholesterol can affect anyone. But you
can do something about it." |
Medicine
Net - Cholesterol
Large resource which answers all your questions about
cholesterol and drug treatments. Also check their Lipitor
/ Atorvastation info.
From the site: "Atorvastatin is an oral drug that lowers
the level of cholesterol in the blood. It belongs to a class
of drugs referred to as statins which includes lovastatin
(Mevacor), simvastatin, (Zocor), fluvastatin (Lescol), and
pravastatin (Pravachol). All statins, including atorvastatin,
prevent the production of cholesterol by the liver by blocking
the enzyme that makes cholesterol." |
Medline
Plus Drug Information - Lipitor
Comprehensive information on Lipitor, and how it works. From
the site - "Lipitor / Atorvastatin (a-TOR-va-stat-in)
is used to lower cholesterol and triglyceride (fat-like substances)
levels in the blood. Using this medicine may help prevent
medical problems caused by such substances clogging the blood
vessels." |
Cholesterol online resources
Advice
Concerning Cholesterol - Information about levels and how
to lower them naturally. Includes links to related web sites and
recommended books and health supplements.
American Heart
Association - Gives complete details on the cholesterol numbers
and what they should be.
Ask the Dietitian
- Question and answer format about cholesterol and saturated fat.
Bupa
- Concise fact sheet explaining the causes, symptoms and treatment
of cholesterol. Available for down loading in Adobe acrobat format.
The Cholesterol Myths
- Review of this issue, written by an independent researcher,
Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD.
Cholesterol Test
- Information about home testing kits which allow you to test
your own level without the expense and delay of going to a doctor.
Eat Fat, Be Healthy
- Information about genetically-caused heart disease due to small-particle
LDL syndrome. Includes questions and answers, book excerpt and
cardiac risk quiz.
Focus on Cholesterol
- List of resources for patients experiencing elevated cholesterol
levels. Explanation of its role in heart disease.
For
Your Health - High Cholesterol Risks - High cholesterol, lipids,
lipoproteins, LDL HDL, triglycerides, and metabolic syndrome.
Offers answers as to what it all means, and how to treat it.
General
Practice Notebook - Cholesterol - Clinically-oriented information.
Good News in Cholesterol
- Offers information on how to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
With cholesterol calculation tools and healthy recipes, users
learn how lead a healthy lifestyle vital in the prevention of
heart disease and stroke.
The Healthy
Refrigerator - Nutritional advice and information to reduce
risk of heart problems or manage heart conditions. Recipes, foods
suggestions, facts about heart disease.
How Stuff
Works - Doctor-written seven-part description of cholesterol
and how to avoid its health problems.
Inch Aweigh:
Lowering Your Cholesterol - The Foods - A cholesterol-lowering
guide that explains what to eat, what to avoid and why.
InteliHealth:
Cholesterol - Includes basic information, treatment options,
and an ask-the-expert section. Reviewed by Harvard Medical School.
International
Health News Database - Summaries of the latest research concerning
fish oils and cholesterol/triglycerides.
Kyolic - Causes, treatment,
symptoms and diet and exercise for Cholesterol.
Lifeclinic.com
- Learn why blood cholesterol matters and how to choose foods
to lower your levels.
Lipid Clinic - For
the public and healthcare professionals to learn about the evaluation
and treatment of high cholesterol and lipid abnormalities.
Living with
Cholesterol: AHA - Information for understanding the facts
and reducing your risk factor of heart disease and stroke. Recipes
available.
Lowering
Cholesterol Naturally - Independent information about safely
lowering cholesterol levels through diet and supplements, including
causes and symptoms of high cholesterol, and cholesterol medications
and their side effects on your health.
Mamas Health
- Provides information about Cholesterol. What it is and how to
control it.
MDchoice.com
- In four sections: Informs as to why blood cholesterol matters,
guidelines for heart healthy living, cholesterol in children and
fats and foods tables.
Medbroadcast.com
- Find out how to lower your cholesterol level through diet or
medication.
National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute - In-depth look at cholesterol
and why it matters, heart disease, benefits from lowering, having
it checked, diet, exercise, weight and many more topics are discussed.
Natural
Healthlinks - Introduction to high and low cholesterol, it's
symptoms, diet, lifestyle changes and dietary supplements that
may be helpful.
Rose
Medical Center - High Cholesterol - An article about cholesterol,
discussing the interpretation of the numbers, good and bad cholesterol
as well as how to fight it when it is high.
Ruchi
Health.com: Cholesterol - Learn about its sources, its effects,
and its roles in the body. Also know about how soya helps to check
high cholesterol.
US
Food and Drug Administration - Information regarding keeping
cholesterol under control. An article by John Henkel.
Veritas
Medicine - Clinical trial listings for high cholesterol. Perform
a personalized search to find ongoing clinical trials that match
your needs.
WebMDHealth
- Offers a consumer health site for cholesterol, written and reviewed
by doctors.
What Doctors
Don't Tell You - Information about cholesterol test kits and
how they are being kept off the market by the medical establishment.
When
to Start Cholesterol-Lowering Therapy in Patients With Coronary
Heart Disease - A statement for health care professionals
from the American Heart Association task force on risk reduction.
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