Lipitor side effects: A detailed guide

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lipitor to:

• lower cholesterol in adults and children with certain high cholesterol conditions
• lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other heart problems in adults with certain conditions

This article describes the possible side effects of Lipitor oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about Lipitor, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Lipitor is a brand-name medication that comes as a tablet that you swallow. It’s available in a generic version called atorvastatin. This article describes possible side effects of Lipitor.

More common side effects of Lipitor

Lipitor oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of Lipitor include:

• runny nose
• sore throat
• nasal congestion
• mild pain in your muscles, joints, bones, throat, or extremities (fingers or toes)
• diarrhea

Mild side effects of Lipitor

Lipitor may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and easily manageable. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that do not go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of Lipitor oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• diarrhea
• indigestion
• mild pain in your muscles, joints, bones, throat, or extremities (fingers or toes)
• muscle spasms
• nasal congestion
• nausea
• runny nose
• sore throat
• trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• urinary tract infection
• mild allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Lipitor in detail” section below.

Lipitor oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects of Lipitor

Lipitor may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from Lipitor oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Lipitor.

Serious side effects of Lipitor oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• high blood sugar, which may progress to type 2 diabetes
• immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy*
• liver problems*
• myopathy and rhabdomyolysis*
• severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Lipitor in detail” section below.

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Common questions about side effects of Lipitor

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of Lipitor oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How do side effects of Lipitor seen in females compare with those seen in males?

Side effects caused by Lipitor oral tablet are expected to be the same in females* and males*. Differences in side effects between males and females were not reported in the drug’s studies.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your risk for side effects from Lipitor based on your gender.

*Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Is Lipitor safe for older adults?

Maybe. In Lipitor’s studies, differences in side effects were not noted between younger and older adults (age 65 years and above).

That said, older age is a risk factor for myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, which are serious muscle-related side effects that Lipitor oral tablet can cause.* Due to this risk, doctors often prescribe a lower starting dose of Lipitor for older adults. They may also choose to monitor older adults more closely for muscle-related side effects.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your risk for side effects from Lipitor based on your age and other health factors.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Lipitor in detail” section below.

Does Lipitor cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases Lipitor may cause long-term side effects. Some of these side effects can occur if you take the drug for a long time. And some side effects may last for a while after you have stopped taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported with Lipitor include:

• high blood sugar, which may progress to type 2 diabetes
• liver problems*
• myopathy and rhabdomyolysis*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Lipitor in detail” section below.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of Lipitor may last.

Do side effects of Lipitor go away?

Yes, in most cases. Mild side effects caused by Lipitor oral tablet are usually easy to manage. They may even go away on their own after a few hours or days. Serious side effects are rarely long term. They may go away if you stop treatment with Lipitor.

If you have side effects that do not go away or become bothersome while taking Lipitor oral tablet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects of Lipitor in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of Lipitor oral tablet.

Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

In studies, myopathy and rhabdomyolysis were rare in people taking Lipitor oral tablet. These side effects may be serious.

Myopathy is a muscle disorder that causes you to experience muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. Other symptoms include muscle cramps or stiffness.

With rhabdomyolysis, skeletal muscle breaks down. Symptoms include severe muscle pain, brown or dark-colored urine, and muscle weakness.

Certain factors can increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis with Lipitor oral tablet. These include:

• being age 65 years or older
• using other drugs, including other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as gemfibrozil (Lopid), that can cause muscle-related side effects
• having a kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease
• having an untreated underactive thyroid

Ways to manage

If you experience symptoms of myopathy, tell your doctor right away. They will likely recommend making an appointment so they can further evaluate your symptoms. During this appointment, your doctor may suggest stopping treatment with Lipitor. Your doctor may help you explore other treatments for your condition.

If you think you’re having symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room right away. Without quick treatment, rhabdomyolysis can cause long-term kidney damage or even death. If you develop rhabdomyolysis while taking Lipitor oral tablet, your doctor will likely suggest stopping treatment with the drug.

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy

In rare cases, Lipitor may cause immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy. But it is unclear whether this occurred in studies of Lipitor oral tablet. However, it has been reported in people taking statin drugs after approval for use. (Keep in mind that Lipitor is a statin drug.) This side effect may be serious.

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy is a rare condition that causes skeletal muscle to break down. Symptoms include:

• severe muscle weakness; this usually occurs in muscles close to the center of your body such as the neck, back, or thighs
• difficulty climbing stairs or rising from a chair
• feeling very tired

Ways to manage

If you think you are experiencing symptoms of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, tell your doctor. They will likely recommend making an appointment so they can further evaluate your symptoms in person. If your doctor confirms that you have immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, they will recommend a treatment for this condition. They will also likely suggest stopping treatment with Lipitor.

Liver problems

In studies, liver problems were rare in people taking Lipitor. liver problems were rare in people taking Lipitor. These side effects are often mild, but some people may experience serious side effects, although this is rare.

With liver problems, you may have increased levels of liver enzymes. (An enzyme is a protein that helps speed up chemical reactions in our bodies.) Typically, this does not cause symptoms and goes away without treatment. However, high liver enzymes can also be a sign of liver damage, although this is rare.

Liver failure has also been reported with Lipitor oral tablet. Symptoms of liver failure may include abdominal pain and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice).

Certain factors can increase the risk of liver problems with Lipitor oral tablet. These include:

• consuming alcohol while taking Lipitor
• having a liver condition, such as alcohol-related liver disease or liver cirrhosis

Ways to manage

Before you start taking Lipitor oral tablet, your doctor will likely order blood tests to check levels of your liver enzymes. They will order these tests throughout your treatment. Your doctor may lower your Lipitor dose or temporarily pause your treatment if these levels are high at any point while you are taking the drug.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems, tell your doctor. They will likely recommend stopping treatment with Lipitor.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Lipitor oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They will also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you have had a serious allergic reaction to Lipitor, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for Lipitor

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking Lipitor oral tablet.

Warnings

It may not be safe for you to take Lipitor if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether Lipitor oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking Lipitor oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease
• liver condition, such as alcohol-related liver disease
• untreated underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• using other drugs, including other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as gemfibrozil (Lopid), that can cause muscle-related side effects
• past allergic reaction to Lipitor

Lipitor and pregnancy

You should not take Lipitor oral tablet during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with Lipitor.

Lipitor and breastfeeding

You should not take Lipitor oral tablet while breastfeeding. If you are currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with Lipitor.

Lipitor and alcohol

Lipitor oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol. If you drink alcohol, you should minimize or avoid drinking it while taking Lipitor oral tablet.

Both alcohol and Lipitor can cause liver problems. Consuming alcohol while taking Lipitor oral tablet raises your risk for liver problems, including liver damage or failure.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how to avoid it during your treatment with Lipitor.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of Lipitor oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Are side effects of Lipitor similar to generic atorvastatin?
• How do side effects of Lipitor compare with other statin drugs?
• Does Lipitor have similar side effects as gemfibrozil?
• If I have a mild liver condition, will I be monitored more closely for side effects if I’m prescribed Lipitor?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.