Atorvastatin is a drug used for lowering cholesterol and thereby preventing cardiovascular disease. This medication works by reducing the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood.
Atorvastatin 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.
Atorvastatin is also known under brand name Lipitor.
With 2005 sales of US$12.9 billion under the brand name Lipitor, it is currently the biggest selling drug in the world.
Atorvastatin Uses
Cholesterol is produced in the liver. Atorvastatin works by inhibiting the production of cholesterol thereby reducing its levels in the blood.
Atorvastation is also known to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood. Rise in LDL cholesterol leads to coronary heart diseases. Lowering the levels of LDL cholesterol is quite beneficial, since it not only halts the progress of the disease but it may also reverse the damage already done.
High levels of triglycerides have also been known to cause coronary artery diseases. Atorvastatin helps by reducing the levels of triglycerides also.
Another important use of Atorvastatin is that it raises the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is believed to get rid of the excess cholesterol in the blood (which would otherwise get deposited on the walls of the arteries and eventually lead to coronary artery diseases).
In performing all these functions, Atrovastatin prevents strokes, heart attacks, angina, coronary artery diseases and congestive heart failure among others.
This medication is available as Atorvastatin 10mg, 20mg, 40mg and 80mg tablets.
How to use Atorvastatin
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) usual dosage is 10mg – 20mg once daily. The dosage may be increased to a maximum of 80mg once daily, with the approval of your health care professional.
If the LDL cholesterol levels are high, then the starting dosage may be 40mg daily, with the advice of your health care professional.
This medication should be taken with plenty of water. It may be taken with or without food.
It may be taken at any time of the day but try to take it at the same time each day to prevent missing a dose.
Users should evaluate all relevant aspects before Atorvastatin use and discuss the need to buy Atorvastatin with their health care professionals.
For more dosage, overdose, missed dose and usage information, you can consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Atorvastatin Side Effects
Atorvastatin users should immediately notify their health care professionals if they experience any adverse reactions after generic Atorvastatin use. In exceptional cases some of the users may experience serious side effects like: pain in the muscles, yellowing of skin, breathing becoming very strenuous, etc. For detailed list of Atorvastatin side effects, you can talk to your health care professional.
Atorvastatin Interactions
Before users actually buy Atorvastatin online from any online drugstore, they should inform their health care professional of any other medications that they may be using.
If you are using any of these medications, then before taking Atorvastatin, inform your health care professional accordingly. There are possibilities of adverse reactions with the simultaneous use of these medications.
Norvasc (amlodipine), Amaryl (glimepiride), Aspirin Low Strength (aspirin), Clexane (enoxaparin), Lasix (furosemide), Coumadin (warfarin), Nexium (esomeprazole) and Aspirin Lite Coat (aspirin) others.
For a complete list of Atorvastatin interaction, you can consult your doctor or pharmacist.