Atorvastatin is a prescription statin medication used to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack or stroke.
Atorvastatin
*image for illustrative purpose only
Atorvastatin
*image for illustrative purpose only
Atorvastatin (the generic form of Lipitor®) is a prescription statin medication. It’s primarily used to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke in people with certain risk factors, like high cholesterol or heart disease.
Its main effect is reducing cholesterol production in the liver. However, atorvastatin may be prescribed to people with obesity-related metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries) to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Lifestyle changes or other medications may help with weight loss.
Common side effects may include joint pain, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, insomnia, urinary tract infection, and pain in the extremities. You should not take atorvastatin if you are pregnant or may become pregnant.
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 atorvastatin varies depending on factors such as your insurance plan, which pharmacy you use, the dosage, and the quantity. Without insurance, atorvastatin may cost about $124 for a month’s supply of 40-milligram (mg) tablets, but coupons can bring down the price to as low as about $7.
Health insurance plans may cover some or all of the cost of this medication.
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
You do not need to take atorvastatin at night, but your provider may recommend taking it in the evening because your body makes the most cholesterol at night. The most important thing is to take the medication around the same time each day.
Taking atorvastatin after you’ve eaten may help prevent nausea.
While taking atorvastatin, avoid drinking large amounts (more than a quart per day) of grapefruit juice, as the liquid can affect your body’s ability to properly break down the medication. Ask your provider if there are any other foods, medications, or supplements you should avoid while taking atorvastatin.
Atorvastatin does not make birth control pills less effective, but the statin could increase your risk of side effects from the contraceptive. It’s best to discuss these risks with your provider.
*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.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
GoodRx. (n.d.). Lipitor prices, coupons, and savings tips. https://www.goodrx.com/lipitor
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2024). Blood cholesterol: Treatment. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol/treatment
National Library of Medicine. (2024). Atorvastatin: MedlinePlus drug information. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600045.html
National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Statins: MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/statins.html
NHS. (2022). Common questions about atorvastatin. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/atorvastatin/common-questions-about-atorvastatin/
NHS. (2022). How and when to take atorvastatin. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/atorvastatin/how-and-when-to-take-atorvastatin/