What Is Atorvastatin and Why Is It Commonly Prescribed?
Atorvastatin is a prescription medicine in the statin family. It is commonly known by the brand name Lipitor. Doctors prescribe it primarily to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people who are at increased cardiovascular risk.
How does atorvastatin work?
Atorvastatin blocks an enzyme the liver uses to produce cholesterol. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol and increases its ability to remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. It can also lower triglycerides.
Why might your doctor prescribe it?
Common reasons include:
- High LDL cholesterol
- Familial (inherited) high cholesterol
- Coronary heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes combined with cardiovascular risk factors
- A high overall risk of heart attack or stroke.
The goal isn’t simply to improve a cholesterol test. Lowering LDL with a statin can reduce the likelihood of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, in appropriate patients.
Are there side effects?
Most people tolerate atorvastatin well. Possible effects include diarrhea, heartburn, gas, joint pain, and occasionally memory problems or confusion. Muscle symptoms can occur, while serious muscle injury is uncommon. Actual serious liver injury is also rare.
Contact your doctor promptly if you develop unexplained muscle pain or weakness, particularly with extreme tiredness or fever, or if you develop dark urine, yellow skin/eyes, loss of appetite, or pain in the upper-right abdomen.
