What Is The Side Effect Of Lipitor – Lipitor is a statin that helps lower cholesterol and triglycerides, but it can have side effects such as diarrhea, joint pain, and cold symptoms. Learn about Lipitor side effects, warnings, drug interactions and how to avoid them.

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What Is The Side Effect Of Lipitor

Lipitor is a brand name prescription drug used to lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Atorvastatin, the active ingredient in Lipitor, belongs to a family of drugs called statins or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. It works by reducing the liver’s production of LDL cholesterol and increasing the liver’s removal of LDL cholesterol from the blood. Also known as the “bad” cholesterol, LDL cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein can build up and clog the arteries.

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Statins also work to increase levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) and reduce levels of certain fats called triglycerides that can damage the arteries. In addition, statins like Lipitor can help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems

Lipitor has been widely used for over 20 years, so its side effects are well known. The most common side effects that have been reported are:

In placebo-controlled clinical trials, cold symptoms were the most commonly reported side effect of Lipitor. A cold, also known as nasopharyngitis, involves inflammation of the back of the throat and nasal passages. Symptoms may include sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and coughing.

Joint pain, or joint pain, is another common side effect of Lipitor. Some may also experience muscle pain or generalized pain in the arms and legs along with joint pain. One study from the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people taking statins are 19% more likely to experience musculoskeletal pain than people not taking statins. Joint and muscle pain can affect a person’s ability to exercise, which can contribute to possible weight gain.

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Statin​

In addition to cold symptoms and joint or muscle pain, Lipitor can also cause gastrointestinal side effects. About 7% of people in clinical trials had diarrhea while taking Lipitor. Diarrhea can also be accompanied by other gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, stomach upset or nausea.

Muscle pain or weakness is one of the most common reasons people stop taking Lipitor. If muscle problems develop, your healthcare provider may reduce your dose, switch to another statin, or stop treatment for a while.

People taking statins may be at increased risk of serious side effects that affect the muscles. Lipitor use has been associated with myopathy, which includes symptoms such as muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. In severe cases, myopathy can worsen and develop into rhabdomyolysis or breakdown of the muscle tissue.

Creatinine kinase (CK) is an enzyme that is released into the blood when muscle damage occurs. Because CK is filtered by the kidneys, high CK levels can take a toll on the kidneys and cause serious kidney damage or kidney failure. A healthcare professional will often do blood tests to check CK levels if myopathy or rhabdomyolysis is suspected.

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Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, also known as necrotizing autoimmune myopathy, is a rare autoimmune disease that can be caused by the use of Lipitor. This condition occurs when the immune system begins to attack the muscle cells, leading to the death of the muscle tissue. Symptoms may include extreme fatigue, difficulty climbing stairs or standing up from a sitting position, and weakness in the muscles (especially those closest to the body, such as the back, shoulders, and neck).

Lipitor, especially in high doses, can lead to liver problems, such as liver damage and liver disease. Symptoms of liver damage include jaundice, fatigue, dark urine and decreased appetite. Initially, someone taking Lipitor may experience increased levels of the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Elevated liver enzyme tests could indicate liver problems; therefore, healthcare providers often check liver enzyme levels before starting statin therapy.

Serious allergic reactions to Lipitor are rare. However, cases have been reported. An allergic reaction to Lipitor may include signs or symptoms such as a severe rash, itching, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, lips, or throat.

Lipitor is usually cleared from the body in about 77 hours, or three days, with a half-life of about 20 to 30 hours. Side effects may last as long as the medicine is taken. Healthcare professionals may still recommend taking the drug if side effects are minor and occur at the start of treatment. Side effects are usually mild and temporary, and the severity of side effects may decrease over time as the body adapts to the drug. If side effects persist or worsen, contact your healthcare provider.

Do Lipitor Side Effects Outweigh The Potential Benefits?

Serious side effects such as muscle damage and severe allergic reactions may require immediate medical attention and discontinuation of the drug. Muscle pain and weakness may last for several months after stopping Lipitor. If left untreated, serious side effects can lead to lifelong complications. Some side effects, such as lung damage and muscle damage, can be irreversible and require lifelong treatment.

Although effective in lowering cholesterol levels and lowering the risk of heart attack or stroke, Lipitor may not be right for everyone. Keep reading to learn about abuse, withdrawal, overdose, and how Lipitor can worsen existing conditions.

Lipitor is not a drug of abuse or psychological dependence. When statin use is stopped after long-term use, however, LDL cholesterol levels can quickly return to higher than normal levels. Since increased LDL cholesterol can lead to cardiovascular disease, stopping a drug like Lipitor can lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

It is possible for most people to stop taking statins safely, but there are no concrete guidelines for stopping statin therapy in older people. If a statin doesn’t work, talk to your doctor before you stop taking it.

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High doses of Lipitor can increase the risk of statin toxicity, which can lead to serious side effects. You may experience symptoms such as muscle pain, muscle weakness and muscle inflammation along with high levels of creatine kinase in the blood. When muscles are damaged, the cells leak creatine kinase and a protein called myoglobin into the bloodstream. If muscle damage is severe enough, the kidneys can be damaged by substances released from dead muscle cells.

Overdose can be a concern while taking statins. Some people who take several other medicines or have other health problems may forget to take their dose correctly – forgetting a dose one day and taking too much the next day. To prevent overdose, medication reminders such as daily alerts can be helpful.

If overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention. When taking a statin, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider if you experience unusual muscle pain or muscle weakness while taking Lipitor. Myalgia and muscle weakness are possible signs of statin toxicity.

Lipitor may not be safe to take with certain medications. Certain combinations should be avoided, while others may require monitoring or adjustment of therapy. Some of these drugs include:

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Lipitor is mainly metabolized or processed in the liver by the CYP3A4 enzyme. Medicines that block this enzyme, also known as CYP3A4 inhibitors, can reduce the metabolism of Lipitor and increase the total amount of Lipitor in the blood. Certain azole antifungals, some macrolide antibiotics, and many antiviral drugs can increase the risk of Lipitor side effects when taken with Lipitor.

Drugs that promote the activity of the CYP3A4 enzyme, also known as CYP3A4 inducers, can increase the metabolism and decrease the effectiveness of Lipitor. When used together with Lipitor, drugs such as rifampin may decrease the effectiveness of Lipitor.

Lipitor can also affect how other drugs work in the body. For example, Lipitor can increase blood levels of birth control pills, which can increase the risk of side effects from birth control pills. Lipitor can also increase the blood levels of digoxin, a heart failure medicine that is usually taken with other medicines. People taking birth control pills or digoxin may need to monitor for possible side effects if they also take Lipitor.

Avoid large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Grapefruit can inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme and interfere with the breakdown of Lipitor in the body. Statin toxicity is possible if statins are combined with grapefruit.

Lipitor: How Does This Statin Affect Cholesterol Levels?

It is recommended that you avoid high-fat or high-cholesterol foods while taking Lipitor. These foods can increase cholesterol levels and make Lipitor less effective.

Always talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider before taking Lipitor to avoid interactions with foods or other medications.

Lipitor can prevent life-threatening problems when taken every day long-term. However, as with all medications, Lipitor can cause unwanted side effects. Since Lipitor can be a lifelong treatment, it is helpful to learn some ways to minimize side effects and promote the potential benefits of the drug.

The most important thing is to take Lipitor as prescribed at the same time each day. Follow all instructions from your healthcare provider or those provided

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