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Lipitor

Lipitor

Why have I been prescribed LIPITOR?

LIPITOR is used along with changes in lifestyle, including diet, to lower the level of cholesterol and other fats (such as triglycerides) in the blood in:1

  • adults with high blood cholesterol
  • boys and girls (who already started their period) who are 10 to less than 18 years of age with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. This is a genetic condition where high blood cholesterol is inherited from one of the parents. These children have high blood cholesterol when dieting and have:
    • family history of premature cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessel problems); or
    • two or more other cardiovascular risk factors as determined by their healthcare professional.

LIPITOR is also used to lower the risk of heart attack in adults with:1

  • coronary heart disease. This is a heart condition that happens when the arteries of the heart become narrower and cannot deliver enough blood to the heart. This is due to a buildup of plaque (fatty deposits) inside the artery walls.
  • high blood pressure who have no evidence of coronary heart disease, but have three or more risk factors as determined by their healthcare professional.

LIPITOR is used to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with:1

  • type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure who have no evidence of coronary heart disease, but have other risk factors as determined by their healthcare professional. LIPITOR is just part of the treatment the healthcare professional will plan with you to help keep you or your child healthy. Depending on your/your child’s health and lifestyle, the healthcare professional may recommend:
  • a change in diet to:
    • control your/your child’s weight
    • reduce your/your child’s intake of cholesterol and saturated fats
    • increase your/your child’s intake of fiber
  • exercise that is right for you or your child
  • quitting smoking or avoiding smoky places
  • giving up alcohol or drinking less

Follow the instructions of your/your child’s healthcare professional carefully.

What is LIPITOR?

LIPITOR belongs to a class of medicines known as "statins," more specifically called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Statins block an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase in your liver, which is involved in the production of cholesterol in your body. LIPITOR is used along with changes to your lifestyle to help control the amount of cholesterol in your blood.1

LIPITOR can help your body:1

  • Decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglyceride levels and other fats in the blood
  • Increase HDL (good) cholesterol
  • Decrease the Total Cholesterol HDL-Cholesterol Ratio (TC-HDL-C Ratio). This ratio represents the balance between good and bad cholesterol.

This in turn also reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults who:1

  • have multiple risk factors for developing cardiovascular problems
  • have coronary heart disease

What are the ingredients in LIPITOR?

Medicinal ingredients: atorvastatin calcium.
Non-medicinal ingredients: calcium carbonate, candelilla wax (10, 20 and 40 mg), croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, simethicone emulsion, talc and titanium dioxide.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a complex, fatty substance (a "lipid") that your body uses to produce many hormones and parts of your cells. Most of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver.
In order to be used properly by your body, cholesterol particles need to move through the bloodstream. To do this, they attach themselves to lipid-carrying proteins ("lipoproteins").
Two types of lipoproteins are important: low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) and high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). Cholesterol carried by LDLs ("LDL-cholesterol") is called "bad" cholesterol, while cholesterol carried by HDLs ("HDL-cholesterol") is called "good" cholesterol.2

What is high cholesterol?

If your doctor tells you that you have high LDL-cholesterol, what he or she is really saying is that you have more cholesterol in your blood than your body needs. The higher your LDLcholesterol level, the greater your risk of developing heart disease.2

What could happen if I don’t keep my high cholesterol under control?

High levels of cholesterol in the blood are one of the factors that increase your risk of cardiovascular disease (heart or blood vessel disease). This means that high cholesterol increases your chance of having a heart attack.2

How does LIPITOR reduce the risk of these conditions?

LIPITOR is a medication that helps lower cholesterol levels in the blood. It works by blocking an enzyme in the liver that produces cholesterol and by increasing the liver's ability to remove bad cholesterol (LDL). LIPITOR not only lowers bad cholesterol and triglycerides but also raises good cholesterol (HDL), reducing the risk of heart disease.

Your doctor has determined that using LIPITOR may be an effective way for you to achieve your target cholesterol levels and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks.

Learn More: Taking this medication >

What else should I tell my doctor before taking LIPITOR?

Do not use LIPITOR if you/your child:1

  • are allergic to atorvastatin calcium or any other ingredients in LIPITOR or its packaging
  • have active liver disease or unexplained increases in liver enzymes
  • are pregnant or think you/they might be pregnant
  • are breast-feeding
  • are taking medicines used to treat hepatitis C, such as telaprevir, boceprevir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir, simeprevir, velpatasvir/sofosbuvir, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir.
  • are taking cyclosporine, a medicine used to suppress your immune system.

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you/your child take LIPITOR. Talk about any health conditions or problems you/ your child may have, including if you/your child:1

  • have previously taken any cholesterol-lowering medicines in the past. This includes:
    • statins, such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin or simvastatin
    • fibrates such as gemfibrozil, fenofibrate and bezafibrate
    • niacin (nicotinic acid)
  • have had a stroke or a mini stroke
  • are currently taking any other medicines
  • have kidney or liver problems
  • are above 65 years of age
  • regularly drink three or more alcoholic drinks daily
  • have a family history of muscular disorders
  • had any past problems with the muscles (pain, tenderness) after using medicines such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin or simvastatin.
  • have thyroid problems
  • do excessive physical exercise
  • have diabetes
  • have undergone surgery or other tissue injury
  • feel weak or frail

When and how should I take LIPITOR?

Take LIPITOR exactly as your healthcare professional tells you once a day, preferably in the evening with or without food. However, do not drink grapefruit juice while taking LIPITOR. Grapefruit juice increases the level of LIPITOR in your blood and makes side effects more likely.1

Follow the plan your healthcare professional is recommending for diet, exercise and weight control while taking LIPITOR.

How much LIPITOR should I take and how often?

Usual dose:1
The dose of LIPITOR prescribed to you will depend on your condition and/or your blood cholesterol level. Your healthcare professional may change your dose depending on your response to LIPITOR.

To lower blood cholesterol Adults:1

  • The recommended starting dose is 10 mg or 20 mg once daily, depending on your required cholesterol reduction.
  • Patients who need a large reduction in blood cholesterol (more than 45%) may start at 40 mg once daily.
  • The dosage range for LIPITOR is 10 to 80 mg once daily.
  • The maximum dose is 80 mg per day.

Children and adolescents (10 to less than 18 years of age):1

  • The recommended starting dose is 10 mg once daily.
  • The maximum recommended dose is 20 mg per day.

To prevent heart attack and stroke
Adults: The recommended dose is 10 to 80 mg once daily.1

Do not change your LIPITOR dose unless directed by a doctor.

What if I accidentally take too much LIPITOR?

If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much LIPITOR, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.1

What if I forget to take a dose of LIPITOR?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose as scheduled. Do not double the dose.1

What else do I need to know about taking LIPITOR?

Serious Warnings and Precautions1

  • LIPITOR may cause muscle disorders, such as:
    • Myalgia (muscle pain)
    • Rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of damaged muscle)
    • Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy (IMNM) (a type of autoimmune disease that causes muscle cell death)

    They may not go away even after you stop taking LIPITOR.
  • Tell your healthcare professional right away if you have any muscle pain, tenderness, soreness or weakness while taking LIPITOR.

Other warnings you should know about:1
LIPITOR can cause serious side effect, including:

  • Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar):
    • This may lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.
    • Your healthcare professional will monitor your blood sugar level regularly and may adjust your dose during treatment.
    • If you have diabetes, closely monitor your blood sugar while taking LIPITOR and report any unusual results to your healthcare professional.
  • Liver failure (serious disturbances of liver function)
  • Allergic reactions

Pregnancy:

  • LIPITOR should not be taken during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Your healthcare professional will discuss the potential risks with you.
  • If you are a woman who could become pregnant, your healthcare professional will ask you to use a highly effective birth control method while taking LIPITOR.
  • If you discover that you are pregnant while taking LIPITOR, stop taking the medicine and contact your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

Breastfeeding:

  • It is not known whether LIPITOR can pass into breast milk and harm a breastfed baby. As such, LIPITOR is not recommended during breastfeeding.
  • Talk to your healthcare professional about ways to feed your baby while taking LIPITOR.

Check-ups and testing: Your healthcare professional may do blood tests before you start LIPITOR and regularly during your treatment. These tests will check:

  • the level of CoQ10 (an antioxidant) in your blood.
  • the amount of cholesterol and other fats in your blood.
  • that your liver or muscles are working properly.
  • the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood.

Depending on your test results, your healthcare professional may adjust your dose, temporarily stop or discontinue your treatment with LIPITOR.

Learn More: Safety information >

Is it okay to take other medicines while I am taking LIPITOR?

Serious Drug Interactions

Do not take LIPITOR with:1

  • Medicines used to treat hepatitis C. These include telaprevir, boceprevir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir, simeprevir, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir and velpatasvir/sofosbuvir.
  • Cyclosporine, a medicine used to suppress the immune system.

Inform your healthcare professional before taking LIPITOR with:1

  • Medicines used to treat HIV/AIDS. These include efavirenz, nelfinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, tipranavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, darunavir and fosamprenavir.
  • Taking LIPITOR with any of these medicines may cause serious drug interactions. Ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure.

The following may interact with LIPITOR:1

  • Medicines used to lower blood cholesterol. These include niacin (nicotinic acid), fibrates, such as gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, and bezafibrate, and bile acid resins, such as cholestyramine and colestipol.
  • Medicines used to treat bacterial infections. These include erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, fusidic acid and rifampin.
  • Letermovir – used to treat a viral infection caused by the cytomegalovirus (CMV)
  • Itraconazole, ketoconazole – used to treat fungal infections
  • Nefazodone – used to treat depression
  • Digoxin – used to treat heart conditions
  • Amlodipine, quinapril, diltiazem – used to treat high blood pressure and other heart conditions
  • Antacids – used to treat heartburn (indigestion)
  • Cimetidine – used to treat ulcers of the stomach and intestines
  • Colchicine – used to treat gout
  • Birth control medication
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Grapefruit juice

What are the most common side effects of LIPITOR?

Side effects may include:1

  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain or discomfort
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Gas
  • Sore throat or stuffy nose
  • Nosebleeds
  • Dizziness
  • Memory loss or confusion
  • Loss of sensation in part of your body
  • Tingling sensation or pain in the hands, arms, legs or feet
  • Nightmares
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Hair loss
  • Skin rash or itch
  • Joint pain
  • Impotence (inability to get or keep an erection)
  • Breast growth in males

LIPITOR can cause abnormal blood test results. Your doctor will decide when to perform blood tests and will interpret the results.

These are not all the possible side effects you/your child may have when taking LIPITOR. If you/your child experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.

How will I know if I am having an allergic reaction to LIPITOR?

Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include:1

  • difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • wheezing
  • drop in blood pressure
  • feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up
  • hives or rash
  • swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat

References:

  1. LIPITOR Product Monograph, https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp
  2. Heart and Stroke. Living with Cholesterol. Available at www.wcfht.ca/uploads/1/2/3/0/123093388/living_with_cholesterol.pdf Accessed on: January 31, 2025.
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