Lipitor

Lipitor^® (atorvastatin) is a prescription medication in the class of drugs called statins, which are used to lower unhealthy cholesterol levels. Lipitor is primarily prescribed to treat high cholesterol and help prevent heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events in people with risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of heart disease.

Lipitor works by blocking HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme in the liver involved in cholesterol production. In this way, it reduces cholesterol levels and slows the progression of atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in the arteries.

Typical dosing ranges from 10 to 80 milligrams (mg) daily, depending on the person’s cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk. Lipitor is most effective when combined with lifestyle changes such as a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise.

Lipitor is generally well-tolerated but can cause serious side effects in rare cases, such as liver enzyme elevations or muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis), especially when taken at higher doses or when combined with certain medications.

Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) is indicated:

• To reduce the risk of:

  • Myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina in adults with multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) but without clinically evident CHD

  • MI and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with multiple risk factors for CHD but without clinically evident CHD

  • Non-fatal MI, fatal and non-fatal stroke, revascularization procedures, hospitalization for congestive heart failure, and angina in adults with clinically evident CHD

• As an adjunct to diet to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) in:

  • Adults with primary hyperlipidemia

  • Adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH)

• As an adjunct to other LDL-C-lowering therapies to reduce LDL-C in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

• As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adults with:

  • Primary dysbetaliproteinemia

  • Hypertriglyceridemia

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are:

• Inflammation of the nose and throat

• Joint pain

• Diarrhea

• Pain in extremity

• Urinary tract infection

The cost of Lipitor varies depending on factors such as the dosage, quantity, where you buy it, and your insurance plan. Without insurance, the average cost of Lipitor is about $675 for a month’s supply of 40-mg tablets, but coupons may bring down the cost as low as about $556.

With the Lipitor Savings Card, eligible people may pay as little as $4 per month for the medication.

Atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) costs about $124 for the same amount and dose, but coupons may bring down the price to as low as about $7.

Health insurance plans may cover some or all of the cost of these medications.

• Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis

• Hypersensitivity to atorvastatin or any excipient in Lipitor

• Drug interactions: rifampin, oral contraceptives, digoxin, see full prescribing information for details regarding concomitant use of Lipitor with other drugs or grapefruit juice that increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM)

• Liver dysfunction

*This information is from the label for brand name Lipitor^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Atorvastatin the active ingredient in Lipitor, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient atorvastatin.