| The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptic Here are the facts! Click on the blue arrows if you want the scientific evidence! The following Information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. New cholesterol guidelines for converting healthy people into patients Generally, Atorvastatin works within 2 weeks. The full effect is usually seen within 4 weeks and lasts as long as you continue taking it. Always take Atorvastatin as directed by your healthcare professional. New cholesterol guidelines for converting healthy people into patients Atorvastatin is a very effective medicine for lowering high LDL cholesterol—the main target of cholesterol-lowering therapy. Your doctor will determine how much your LDL cholesterol needs to be lowered, based on your overall risk of heart disease. Atorvastatin also effectively lowers high blood-triglyceride levels. In medical studies of people with high cholesterol, Atorvastatin, taken once a day, had the following effects at doses of 10 to 80 mg: Lowered total cholesterol by 29-45%. Lowered LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, by 39-60%. Increased HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol, by 5-9%. Lowered triglyceride levels by 19-37%. Atorvastatin is generally well tolerated and side effects are usually mild. In studies, the most common side effects associated with Atorvastatin were constipation, flatulence, indigestion, and abdominal pain. If you are prescribed Atorvastatin, your healthcare professional may want to conduct routine blood tests to check your liver function before and after starting treatment. Be sure to tell your healthcare professional if you have any allergies to food or medication. Also, report promptly any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by discomfort or fever, as these symptoms may be signs of serious side effects. If you think this is written by another internet crackpot, take a look at Dr. Ravnskov's credentials and the reviews of his book. The only effective way to lower cholesterol is with drugs, but neither heart mortality or total mortality have been improved with drugs the effect of which is cholesterol-lowering only. On the contrary, these drugs are dangerous to your health and may shorten your life. Read Dr. Ravnskov´s thought-provoking paper "High cholesterol may protect against infections and atherosclerosis", recently published in the prestigious Quarterly Journal of Medicine |