| A high blood cholesterol is said to promote atherosclerosis and thus also coronary heart disease. But many studies have shown that people whose blood cholesterol is low become just as atherosclerotic as people whose cholesterol is high. What are the effects of Atorvastatin tablets? Evidence from the new cholesterol-lowering trial PROSPER, that statin treatment causes cancer. 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. If you take Atorvastatin with certain other medicines, they may affect one another. Atorvastatin may interact with certain other cholesterol-lowering drugs, some antibiotics, and antifungal medications. It may also interact with less-frequently prescribed medications as immunosuppressives (given after transplants). Be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist about all prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking. 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. For information about taking Atorvastatin along with other medicines, see your doctor or pharmacist. If you experience side effects, be sure to tell your doctor or other healthcare professional. Atorvastatin works by blocking an enzyme in the liver that your body uses to make cholesterol. When less cholesterol is produced, the liver takes up more cholesterol from the bloodstream. This results in lower levels of cholesterol circulating in your blood. How does Atorvastatin improve the different types of cholesterol? 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%. Your body produces three to four times more cholesterol than you eat. The production of cholesterol increases when you eat little cholesterol and decreases when you eat much. This explains why the ”prudent” diet cannot lower cholesterol more than on average a few per cent. Atorvastatin works by blocking an enzyme in the liver that your body uses to make cholesterol. When less cholesterol is produced, the liver takes up more cholesterol from the bloodstream. This results in lower levels of cholesterol circulating in your blood. Atorvastatin works by blocking an enzyme in the liver that your body uses to make cholesterol. When less cholesterol is produced, the liver takes up more cholesterol from the bloodstream. This results in lower levels of cholesterol circulating in your blood. The new cholesterol-lowering drugs, the statins, do prevent cardio-vascular disease, but this is due to other mechanisms than cholesterol-lowering. Unfortunately, they also stimulate cancer in rodents. Atorvastatin is a prescription drug in one of the newest classes of cholesterol-lowering medications, called statins. These drugs have been used widely for the last five years. For people with high cholesterol, Atorvastatin, in combination with a low-fat diet, can reduce your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. How does Atorvastatin work? What would I need to know about taking Atorvastatin? |