Generic Lipitor

How does Lipitor work?

Atorvastatin Lipitor works by complementing your diet and fitness regimen by altogether working at reducing cholesterol and fat buildup in your blood. As atorvastatin lowers cholesterol and fat levels, it also works to minimize the attendant risks of high cholesterol and fat like heart diseases, angina and chest pain, strokes and heart attacks.

How should I take the product?

Atorvastatin comes in tablet form and may be taken together with food or on an empty stomach. Prescribed dosage is at least once daily. Even while prescription labels or package blisters contain instructions on intake and dosage, make sure that these are consistent with your doctor's instructions. Do not increase or decrease your doses unnecessarily and without your doctor's go-signal.
With atorvastatin's cholesterol-reducing characteristics, you may be misled into thinking that you can be careless in your diet already. No; you should still complement this drug with a disciplined diet that is low-cholesterol and low-fat.
While overdosing is highly unlikely, in the remote accidental possibility of an overdose, treat it like a regular poisoning case and seek emergency medical assistance from your local poison center or clinic.

Precautions

Prior to Lipitor atorvastatin use, you must tell your doctor if you have had any history of any allergic reaction to atorvastatin or to any other slimming drug or other medications. If you are presently taking, have recently taken, or are planning to take any prescription or over-the-counter medication, vitamin, mineral, nutrition supplement, or herbal product, you should inform your doctor of these, too. Tell your doctor also of your use of any birth-control pills or contraceptives and other medications used to lower your cholesterol levels. Whether you are told to stop using these medications or substances or just reduce their respective dosages will be up to your doctor's professional evaluation.
In addition, you must tell your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning to conceive soon if you want to take Lipitor. Breast-feeding moms should also advice their doctors of their planned use of Lipitor. If you are a regular drinker of alcohol, again tell your doctor of this. If you have liver disease, kidney disease, or heart disease, make sure your doctor is apprised of these conditions. While already on atorvastatin medication and you will have to undergo any kind of medical or dental surgery, tell your surgeon or dentist that you are taking Lipitor atorvastatin.

Side effects

Atorvastatin has been known to produce the following milder side effects: diarrhea or conversely constipation, headaches and dizzy spells, insomnia or other sleeping difficulties, muscle and joint pain, hoarseness or sore throat, and instances of upper respiratory infection. Other atorvastatin side effects may be more serious like muscular weakness or tenderness, lethargy, loss of energy, fever, extreme fatigue or tiredness, chest pain, bleeding or bruising, appetite loss, discoloration of the skin or the eyes, rashes and hives, unusual and uncontrollable itching, breathing or swallowing difficulties, swelling of the face or the extremities, urinating pain or the frequent need to urinate. Any of these side effects warrant immediate medical attention.

What should I avoid while taking Lipitor atorvastatin?

Alcohol has a tendency to aggravate atorvastatin's side effects particularly nausea and dizziness. Consult with your doctor on the safe or allowable amount of alcohol intake in conjunction with atorvastatin use, or better yet, if you can, abstain from alcohol use altogether while on atorvastatin medication, particularly if you will be driving or operating complex machineries and equipments.
You need to complement your use of this drug with a special diet of low-cholesterol and low-fat food, including but not limited to fat-free milk, fresh fish, vegetables, poultry, cottage cheese and polyunsaturated margarine. Avoid excessively fatty foods including liver and meat, egg yolk, whole cream milk, butter, cakes and pastries, peanut butter, chocolates and chips.

Drug interactions

Atorvastatin may react variedly with different drugs and substances. Take note of the following medications if you are taking or planning to take atorvastatin: antifungals like itraconazole and ketoconazole; cimetidine Tagamet; cyclosporine Neoral or Sandimmune; digoxin Lanoxin; erythromycin; oral contraceptives or birth control pills; fenofibrate; gemfibrozil; and niacin. It is possible that the use of these medications in conjunction or combination with atorvastatin Lipitor may induce reactions or side effect symptoms; at the onset of such reactions, make sure to refer them to your doctor.