Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is a medication prescribed by a doctor to lower cholesterol in people who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol (high levels of cholesterol in the blood).

What are the bad side effects of atorvastatin?

Common Lipitor side effects are diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and changes in some blood tests, according to Pfizer Inc. The drug label also warns of serious side effects such as liver problems and muscle problems that can lead to kidney failure.

What is the main use of atorvastatin?

Atorvastatin belongs to a group of medicines called statins. It’s used to lower cholesterol if you’ve been diagnosed with high blood cholesterol. It’s also taken to prevent heart disease, including heart attacks and strokes.

What foods should be avoided when taking atorvastatin?

While taking atorvastatin (Lipitor), avoid high-fat and high-cholesterol foods as part of your overall treatment. You should avoid large quantities of grapefruit or grapefruit juice, which can increase the risk of serious side effects. Also, avoid excess alcohol use, as this may cause serious liver problems.

Why you should not take atorvastatin?

Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million people taking statins.

Can you drink coffee with atorvastatin?

In this elegant study, they showed that a 3-day treatment with atorvastatin reduced infarct size, which was completely abolished by concomitant administration of caffeinated coffee, but not decaffeinated coffee, in the drinking bottle [7].

Can you stop taking statins Once you start?

Therefore, most people who begin taking a statin medication will likely take it for the rest of their lives. If you’ve been taking statins and would like to stop, you’ll need to do so with your doctor’s guidance. This is because it can be dangerous to stop taking statins.

Is atorvastatin safe for kidneys?

Recognizing the link between kidney function and cardiovascular disease,8 Vogt et al speculated whether atorvastatin also might affect kidney function decline. They found that in patients with or at risk of cardiovascular disease, atorvastatin improved kidney function in a dose-dependent manner over time.

Does atorvastatin affect sleep?

The top-selling statins are atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor). How they can cause insomnia: The most common side effect of all types of statins is muscle pain, which can keep people who take them awake at night and unable to rest.

Can I drink Squirt while taking atorvastatin?

Some substances can interact with statins With some statins, drinking grapefruit juice, or eating grapefruit, is a bad idea. Grapefruit juice can cause that statin to stay in your body much longer, and the drug can build up. This can increase the risk of muscle breakdown, liver damage, and even kidney failure.

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Does atorvastatin lower blood pressure?

BP-lowering effects of atorvastatin were consistent in both daytime and nighttime periods. This study shows a mild, but consistent throughout the 24-h period BP-lowering effect of atorvastatin in patients with mild hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia.

Is 40 mg of atorvastatin a lot?

Adults—At first, 10 or 20 milligrams (mg) once a day. Some patients may need to start at 40 mg per day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 80 mg per day.

Can Atorvastatin cause high blood pressure?

Does Lipitor treatment affect my blood pressure? Changes in blood pressure weren’t reported in people taking Lipitor in clinical trials. However, since the drug was approved, there have been a few studies looking at statins, including Lipitor. These studies showed that statins may slightly lower blood pressure.

How can I lower my cholesterol without taking statins?

1. Avoid trans and saturated fats.
2. Eat lots of soluble fiber. Upping your daily intake of soluble fiber can decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. …
3. Exercise. …
4. Cut down on your alcohol intake. …
5. Try fish oil supplements. …
6. Take a garlic supplement.

What should my cholesterol be for my age?

Age and sexTotal cholesterolHDL cholesterolAge and sexTotal cholesterolHDL cholesterolPeople aged 19 years and youngerTotal cholesterolLess than 120 mg/dLMen aged 20 years and olderTotal cholesterolLess than 130 mg/dLWomen aged 20 years and olderTotal cholesterolLess than 130 mg/dL

What can I take instead of statins to lower cholesterol?

• Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. …
• Plant stanols and sterols. …
• Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. …
• Niacin. …
• Policosanol. …
• Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) …
• Natural products.

Is there a natural substitute for statins?

For patients who can’t tolerate cholesterol-lowering statins, natural remedies like bergamot, garlic and green tea may be a useful alternative, based on a recent statement published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

How can I lower my cholesterol in 30 days?

1. Switch to a Mediterranean Diet. …
2. Increase Exercise. …
3. Supplement Fiber. …
4. Lose Weight. …
5. Drink Alcohol in Moderation. …
6. Let South Denver Cardiology Associates Help.

Do statins make you age faster?

Statins do have side effects, all medication does to some extent. And some of those side effects reported could also be deemed to be signs of premature aging. Memory loss and weakness or fatigue are both listed under ‘uncommon side effects’ on the NHS website.

Does atorvastatin cause weight gain?

Weight gain isn’t a side effect of Lipitor. However, Lipitor belongs to a class of medications known as statins, which have been linked to weight gain. Some researchers have found that people who use statins tend to take in more calories than those who don’t. This includes getting more calories from fat.

Does atorvastatin cause fatigue?

In recent years, researchers discovered that people taking statins reported increased levels of general fatigue and tiredness, especially after exertion. A study from the University of California San Diego found that people taking statins experienced lower levels of energy than people who took a placebo.

Can I eat oranges while taking atorvastatin?

Seville oranges, limes, and pomelos also contain this chemical and should be avoided if you’re taking statins.

Can statins cause belly fat?

As with many medications, statins may cause side effects, including digestive problems, muscle pain and weakness, and cognitive dysfunction. Another side effect that’s been linked to statins is weight gain.

What is atorvastatin 20 mg used for?

Atorvastatin is used along with a proper diet to help lower “bad” cholesterol and fats (such as LDL, triglycerides) and raise “good” cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. It belongs to a group of drugs known as “statins.” It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver.

What are the side effects of atorvastatin 20 mg?

• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea.
• Cold symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose.
• Joint pain.
• Insomnia.
• Urinary tract infection.
• Nausea.
• Loss of appetite.
• Indigestion symptoms such as stomach discomfort or pain.

Can statins cause foamy urine?

Rarely, statins may cause or worsen diabetes. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks. Tell your doctor right away if this unlikely but serious side effect occurs: foamy urine.

Do statins hurt your kidneys?

Kidney damage is one of several reported risks and side effects for statins. Others include pain or weakness in the muscles, confusion, loss of memory, flushing, and rashes.

Which statin has the least amount of side effects?

In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.

Can I drink milk with atorvastatin?

Interactions between your drugs No interactions were found between Lipitor and milk thistle. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist.

Can I eat pineapple with statins?

The risk of a drug-nutrient interaction between pineapple juice and statins is minimal to none.

What fruit can't you eat with statins?

Grapefruit and statins: Eating grapefruit, either the fruit itself or as juice, can slow the body’s ability to metabolize statin cholesterol-lowering drugs, which include Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor.