28 Aug Drug Interactions of Lipitor atorvastatin and Other Statins
Atorvastatin is one option your doctor may discuss with you. Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. Developing this condition with the drug may depend on individual factors. For example, ED may be caused by other conditions you have or other medications you’re taking.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially muscle problems. Before having how long does marijuana stay in your system blood, urine, and hair any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking atorvastatin. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
A total of 373 medications are known to interact with Atorvastatin. If you have questions about how long you’ll need to use Lipitor, talk with your doctor. And remember, you should not stop taking Lipitor or change your dosage unless your doctor recommends it. You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions. Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that offers these options if your current pharmacy doesn’t.
- Your doctor will likely have you continue to take medications you use for other conditions, including cardiovascular disease.
- The generic is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug.
- They can give you more information about the benefits and risks of using other drugs with atorvastatin.
- If you have questions about the statin that is right for you, talk with your doctor.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list or view more atorvastatin side effects here. Your medication may need to be stopped, your dose adjusted or your treatment changed completely. You can take atorvastatin at any time of the day because the amount of time the drug is active (known as the half-life) is long. This drug inhibits the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme for about 20 to 30 hours. This means you can take it at any time during the day or night, but you should take your dose at the same time each day, just to get in the habit. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital.
Lipitor and foods
Antibiotics ending in -mycin such as erythromycin or Biaxin (clarithromycin) may increase the statins present in the blood and may also increase side effects. This medicine will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan. This is not a complete list of drug overdose: definition risks signs and more side effects and others may occur. There are no antidotes available for atorvastatin overdose. Patients should be monitored for adverse events and provided with supportive care. The dosing of atorvastatin can have its basis in LDL-C lowering ability (intensity), or doses are titratable to specific lipid goals.
Oral Contraceptives
Or they may prescribe a different medication to treat your condition to avoid serious side effects from drug interactions. Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that atorvastatin oral tablets can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read atorvastatin oral tablet’s prescribing information. Like most drugs, atorvastatin oral tablets may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that atorvastatin oral tablets may cause.
Researchers in one study looked at people with high blood pressure but no history of heart attack. People in the study had at least three risk factors for cardiovascular disease. People took either Lipitor or a placebo (a treatment with no active drug).
Before you start treatment with atorvastatin, tell your doctor about all of your health conditions and any other medications you take. It works by blocking an enzyme (certain type of protein) that’s responsible for making cholesterol in your body. You may have questions about atorvastatin oral tablet and your treatment plan. It’s important to discuss all your concerns with your doctor. Do not stop taking any medication unless you have discussed this with your doctor. If your doctor has recommended that you take a statin drug, it is important that you continue this medication long-term to help protect you from a heart attack or stroke.
Taking Lipitor with other drugs
The half-life of a drug is the average amount of time that it takes for the body to eliminate half of the initial dose from the system. It takes about five half-lives for a drug to leave your body completely. It’s been used to treat certain conditions for more than 20 years and has been studied in adults and children. Beta-blockers help manage high blood pressure, and blood thinners help prevent blood clots. Some people taking Lipitor may also need to take beta-blockers or blood thinners, depending on their other health conditions.
Alternatives to Lipitor
Atorvastatin is rapidly absorbed after oral administration with a peak plasma concentration at 1 to 2 hours. The bioavailability is low at 14% due to extensive first-pass metabolism. If you are going to need surgery or other procedure, tell your care team that you are using this medication. This article provides several useful tips on medication disposal.
Patients taking digoxin should undergo monitoring when starting atorvastatin as plasma concentrations of digoxin may increase. CYP3A4 inducers may cause decreased plasma concentrations of atorvastatin. People with advanced liver disease shouldn’t use statin medications. If you no longer need to take Lipitor and have leftover medication, it’s important to dispose of it safely. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident.