What is atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin is a prescription medicine in the statin family. It lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by reducing cholesterol production in the liver and helping the liver remove LDL from the bloodstream.
Why is it commonly prescribed?
Doctors prescribe atorvastatin to:
-
Lower high LDL cholesterol
-
Reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes
-
Help prevent cardiovascular complications in people at increased risk
-
Treat some inherited forms of very high cholesterol
It is usually taken once daily, with or without food. The appropriate dose depends on your cholesterol levels and your overall cardiovascular risk.
Common side effects
Many people have no significant problems. Possible effects include:
-
Headache
-
Digestive upset
-
Muscle aches
Severe or unexplained muscle pain or weakness, especially with dark-colored urine, should be reported promptly because rare but serious muscle injury can occur.
Atorvastatin can also interact with certain medicines and large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
Don’t stop atorvastatin on your own because your cholesterol improves—the medication may be what is keeping it controlled.
If you tell me whether you’re taking 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg, I can explain what that dose generally means and what LDL level doctors typically aim for.
