Common side effects of Lipitor - Ask Emily

Clip thanks to http://www.medstores.net

Dr. Emily Senay answers viewers' health questions on whether Addison's disease is curable, how caffeine affects high blood pressure, and common side effects for Lipitor.

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) is an oral drug that lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood. It belongs to a class of drugs referred to as statins, which includes lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin, (Zocor), fluvastatin (Lescol), and pravastatin (Pravachol). All statins, including Lipitor (Atorvastatin), prevent the production of cholesterol in the liver by blocking HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that makes cholesterol. Statins reduce total cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol in blood. LDL cholesterol is believed to be the "bad" cholesterol that is primarily responsible for the development of coronary artery disease. Reducing LDL cholesterol levels retards progression and may even reverse coronary artery disease. Lipitor (Atorvastatin) also reduces the concentration of triglycerides in the blood and raises the concentrations of HDL ("good") cholesterol. High blood concentrations of triglycerides also have been associated with coronary artery disease.
Lipitor (Atorvastatin) is used for the treatment of elevated total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and to elevate HDL cholesterol. The effectiveness of Lipitor (Atorvastatin) in lowering cholesterol is dose-related, meaning that higher doses reduce cholesterol more.

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) prevents angina, stroke, heart attack, hospitalization for congestive heart failure, and revascularization procedures in individuals with coronary heart disease.

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) reduces the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, angina and revascularization procedures in adults with multiple risk factors for coronary artery disease.

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) also prevents heart attacks and strokes in patients with type 2 diabetes with multiple risk factors for coronary artery disease.

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Science & Technology

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• Atorvastatin
• lipitor
• pfizer
• statins
• blood
• cholesterol
• plaque
• stroke
• side
• effect
• generic
• medication
• drug

[6713joe]

statins cause leg cramps, a very serious side effect. It is especially bad because it may not show up for about two years, and the person might not connect it to the statin. It should be stopped immediately.