Lipitor is the latest of a group of drugs that have become very popular for
treating high cholesterol. All of these medications lower cholesterol levels by
keeping the liver from manufacturing it.
Coronary artery disease is
associated with certain risk factors, including high serum cholesterol, bad LDL
cholesterol, elevated triglycerides and reduced levels of protective HDL
cholesterol.
When diet, exercise and weight control are insufficient to
control cholesterol, drugs like Lipitor may be important in reducing the risk of
heart disease.
This medication dramatically lowers LDL cholesterol and
triglycerides.
Lipitor has relatively few side effects and
most people tolerate it well.
Some adverse reactions that may occur
include headache, stomach ache, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion,
skin rash, and muscle or joint aches.
Muscle aches, tenderness or
weakness could be a sign of a serious reaction called rhabdomyolysis or
myopathy, and call for a test of kidney function.
Kidney failure might
be the outcome of untreated myopathy. Report any symptoms to your physician
promptly.
The danger of rhabdomyolysis or myopathy is increased when
Lipitor is combined with certain other drugs such as the transplant drug
cyclosporine, antibiotics like erythromycin or Biaxin, cholesterol-lowering
medicines such as Lopid or niacin, and antifungal drugs like Nizoral or Sporanox.
Lipitor may increase blood levels of the heart drug Lanoxin ,
so close monitoring is advised.
Blood levels of oral contraceptives may
also be increased in patients on Lipitor.
Antacids
such as Maalox and the cholesterol drug Colestid can reduce absorption of
Lipitor if they are taken at the same time. There is no indication this reduces
the effectiveness of Lipitor.
The herb St. John's wort might speed elimination of Lipitor from the body, which could
reduce its effectiveness.
There is a remote but untested possibility
that peppermint could increase the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Lipitor. These
agents work by inhibiting the enzyme HMG CoA reductase, and menthol has a
similar action.
The herb gotu kola may
raise cholesterol levels and should not be combined with
cholesterol-lowering medications such as Lipitor.
Check with your
physician and pharmacist to make sure Lipitor is safe in combination with any
other drugs and herbs you take.
Anyone with liver disease should not take Lipitor. Liver enzyme changes have been reported in a small proportion of patients using this medicine, and may indicate serious problems.
Liver function should be tested before anyone starts taking Lipitor and again 6 and 12 weeks after starting. Periodic tests are needed thereafter.
Because cholesterol is essential for the developing fetus and infant, pregnant or nursing women should not take Lipitor.
Research on animals has linked Lipitor to liver and muscle tumors at relatively high doses. Whether there is a risk for humans is still to be determined.
Lipitor is taken once a day, with or without meals, at any convenient time.