Atorvastatin
Atorvastatin calcium, the active ingredient in Lipitor, is a cholesterol-lowering tablet used to lower cholesterol in Hypercholesterolaemia and to reduce cardiovascular event risk in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention. Lipitor comes in four strengths, from 5 mg to 40 mg.
Key points
- Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis: Atorvastatin may cause muscle pain, tenderness or weakness with raised creatine kinase levels, and in rare cases this can progress to rhabdomyolysis, a serious muscle breakdown.
- Liver monitoring: Increases in liver enzymes have been reported, so liver function tests are recommended before starting treatment and periodically afterwards. Use with caution if you drink substantial amounts of alcohol or have a history of liver disease.
- Extended activity: The parent drug clears from the blood in about 14 hours, but active metabolites keep inhibiting cholesterol production for 20 to 30 hours.
How does Atorvastatin work?
Atorvastatin calcium blocks HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme your liver uses to make cholesterol. With less cholesterol being produced, the liver pulls more LDL particles out of the bloodstream through its surface receptors, lowering circulating “bad” cholesterol. It also reduces the number of LDL particles the liver releases in the first place, which is the mechanism behind Cholesterol Management with this medicine.