subject: Lipitor Lowers Bad Cholesterol by 39%-60% [print this page] Lipitor Lowers Bad Cholesterol by 39%-60%
Questions About LIPITOR
Q: What is LIPITOR? A: LIPITOR is a prescription medicine that is used along with a low-fat diet to manage cholesterol. LIPITOR is a type of medicine called a statin. LIPITOR is used to manage cholesterol levels. Along with diet and exercise, LIPITOR is clinically proven to lower bad cholesterol 39%-60% (average effect depending on dose). Lipitor, along with diet, is also used to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, certain kinds of heart surgeries, and chest pain if you have heart disease or several common risk factors for heart disease, including family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, age, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, or smoking.
Q: What are the possible side effects of LIPITOR? A: LIPITOR can cause serious side effects. These side effects have happened only to a small number of people. Your doctor can monitor you for them. These side effects usually go away if your dose is lowered or LIPITOR is stopped. These serious side effects include:
Muscle problems. LIPITOR can cause serious muscle problems that can lead to kidney problems, including kidney failure. You have a higher chance for muscle problems if you are taking certain other medicines with LIPITOR
Liver problems. LIPITOR can cause liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking LIPITOR, and while you take it
Call your doctor right away if:
You have muscle problems like weakness, tenderness, or pain that happen without a good reason, especially if you also have a fever or feel more tired than usual
You have allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing, which may require treatment right away
You experience nausea and vomiting
You pass brown or dark-colored urine
You feel more tired than usual
Your skin and whites of your eyes get yellow
You feel stomach pain
You have an allergic skin reaction
In clinical studies, patients reported the following common side effects while taking LIPITOR: diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and alterations in some laboratory blood tests. The following additional side effects have been reported with LIPITOR: tiredness and tendon problems. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any side effects that bother you or that will not go away. These are not all the side effects of LIPITOR. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list. Or, to find out more about the side effects of LIPITOR, click here. Q: Is LIPITOR right for me? A: LIPITOR is a prescription medicine. Only your doctor can properly determine if you need a prescription medicine along with diet and exercise to lower your high cholesterol. Make an appointment with your doctor and ask if LIPITOR is right for you. Want to make sure you ask your doctor the right questions? Q: Who should not take LIPITOR? A: Do not take LIPITOR if you:
Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant. LIPITOR may harm your unborn baby. If you get pregnant, stop taking LIPITOR and call your doctor right away
Are breast feeding. LIPITOR can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby
Have liver problems
Are allergic to LIPITOR or any of its ingredients. The active ingredient is atorvastatin
Q: When is the best time to take LIPITOR? A: LIPITOR is taken once a day. It can be taken with or without food, day or night. It's helpful to remember to try and take LIPITOR at about the same time every day. Q: Do I need to take LIPITOR with food? A: LIPITOR can be taken with or without food.
Q: What if my daily schedule interferes with taking my medicine? A: Try to take your medicine at the same time every day. Try connecting your medication with something you do every day, such as brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. This may help you remember. Keep a daily calendar and add taking your medicine to your daily to-do list. Check it off once you have taken it. Or set an alarm clock to go off at the time you need to take your medication. You can also use a pill box with the days of the week on it. Some pill boxes even come with built-in alarms! You should also use a calendar to remind yourself to get refills before you run out of medicine.
Q: Can LIPITOR be prescribed to children? A: LIPITOR is for adults and children over 10 whose cholesterol does not come down enough with exercise and a low-fat diet alone. LIPITOR is not approved for use in patients younger than 10 years of age. Q: What should I do if I am taking other prescription medications in addition to LIPITOR? A: Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and even herbal supplements. LIPITOR and certain other medicines can interact, causing serious side effects. Q: What if I can't always afford to refill my medication? A: If you are uninsured or need help paying for Pfizer medicines, Pfizer has programs that can help. Call 1-866-706-2400 or click here www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com. Or click here for money-saving offers.
