Reduction of elevated cholesterol & triglyceride when low fat diet & lifestyle changes on their own have failed. Prevention of CV diseases in high-risk patients.
Adult Initially 10 mg once daily. Adjust dose at intervals of 4 wk or more. Max: 80 mg once daily. Childn ≥10 yr Initially 10 mg once daily. Max: 20 mg once daily.
May be taken with or without food: Avoid excessive consumption (>1 L/day) of grapefruit juice.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to atorvastatin or to any similar medicines used to lower blood lipids. Hepatic impairment. Any unexplained abnormal blood tests for liver function. Woman of childbearing potential not using reliable contraception. Pregnancy & lactation.
Patients w/ previous stroke w/ bleeding into the brain, or w/ small pockets of fluid in the brain from previous strokes; kidney problems; hypothyroidism; repeated or unexplained muscle aches or pains, personal or family history of muscle problems; previous muscular problems during treatment w/ other lipid-lowering medicines (eg, other statins or fibrates); regular, large consumption of alcohol; history of liver disease; DM or at risk of developing DM; severe resp failure; elderly >70 yr; concomitant use of fusidic acid or recently in the last 7 days. Risk of rhabdomyolysis. Perform LFTs before treatment initiation & thereafter when clinically indicated. Rare reports of cognitive impairment associated w/ statin use. Reports of increases in HbA1c & fasting serum glucose levels w/ HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Avoid co-administration w/ strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Inflammation of the nasal passages, pain in the throat, nose bleed; allergic reactions; increases in blood sugar levels or blood creatine kinase; headache; nausea, constipation, wind, indigestion, diarrhoea; joint pain, muscle pain, back pain; abnormal LFTs.
Drug Interactions
Potential interaction w/ oral fusidic acid; immunosuppressants eg, ciclosporin; other antibiotics or antifungal medicines eg, erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, rifampicin; other medicines to regulate lipid levels eg, gemfibrozil, other fibrates, colestipol; some Ca channel blockers eg, amlodipine, diltiazem; digoxin, verapamil, amiodarone; anti-HIV eg, ritonavir, lopinavir, atazanavir, indinavir, darunavir; ezetimibe, warfarin, OCs, stiripentol, cimetidine, phenazone, antacids containing Al or Mg; St. John's wort; grapefruit juice. Avoid drinking too much alcohol while taking this medicine.
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