Atorvaliq, Lipitor

Introduction

Written by Helen Marshall BPharm MRPharmS
Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Scheffel, PharmD
Updated on July 26, 2023

Atorvastatin (a TORE va sta tin) is a generic medication prescribed for improving cholesterol levels and lowering the risk of certain heart and blood vessel problems. It’s used in adults and some children. Atorvastatin belongs to a group of drugs called statins.

Side effects of atorvastatin

Atorvastatin may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of atorvastatin and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about atorvastatin’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for atorvastatin listed in the “Article resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with atorvastatin are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about atorvastatin’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for atorvastatin listed in the “Article resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Atorvastatin oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• common cold symptoms, such as runny or stuffy nose and sore throat
• joint, arm, or leg pain
• diarrhea
• urinary tract infection (UTI)
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for atorvastatin” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of atorvastatin are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about atorvastatin’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for atorvastatin listed in the “Article resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but uncommon. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Atorvastatin’s serious side effects include:

• muscle problems, including pain or weakness and muscle damage that may lead to kidney problems)
• liver problems
• increased blood sugar levels
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for atorvastatin” section.

Common questions about atorvastatin

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about atorvastatin.

Is it better to take atorvastatin in the morning or at night?

It doesn’t matter what time of day you take atorvastatin. The medication is effective whether you take your daily dose in the morning or evening. However, you should always take your dose around the same time each day. This keeps a steady amount of atorvastatin in your blood, helping it work effectively.

Some statins, such as simvastatin (Zocor) and lovastatin (Altoprev), work best when taken in the evening. This is because these statins are short-acting. Their cholesterol-lowering effects don’t last a full 24 hours. Your body makes most cholesterol at night, so these statins are best taken in the evening. Atorvastatin is a long-acting statin. Its cholesterol-lowering effect lasts a full 24 hours.

If you have questions about when to take atorvastatin, talk with your doctor.

How does atorvastatin work? And how long does it take to start working?

Atorvastatin improves cholesterol levels and lowers the risk of certain heart and blood vessel problems, including heart attack and stroke.

Atorvastatin works by stopping your liver from making low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also known as “bad” cholesterol.) The drug also helps your liver remove LDL cholesterol from your blood. “Bad” cholesterol can clog your arteries and raise your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Atorvastatin also helps increase your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (also known as “good” cholesterol). “Good” cholesterol helps protect against heart attack and stroke.

Atorvastatin starts working soon after your first dose, but you won’t notice it working. It may take about 4 weeks for your cholesterol levels to improve. Your doctor may test your cholesterol levels periodically to ensure atorvastatin is working for you.

If you’d like to know more about how atorvastatin works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Uses of atorvastatin

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as atorvastatin for certain conditions. Approved uses for atorvastatin are described below.

Use for heart and blood vessel problems

Doctors may prescribe atorvastatin oral tablet for improving cholesterol levels in adults and some children. It’s also prescribed to lower the risk of certain heart and blood vessel problems in some adults, including heart attack and stroke. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

Specifically, doctors prescribe atorvastatin to:

• lower the risk of certain heart problems, including chest pain, heart attack, certain heart surgeries, and stroke, in adults with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease
• lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes and other risk factors for heart disease
• improve cholesterol levels in adults and children ages 10 years and older with certain types of high cholesterol

There are two main types of cholesterol. These are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also known as “bad” cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (also known as “good” cholesterol). Triglycerides are another type of “bad” fat.

High levels of LDL-cholesterol or triglycerides in your blood can clog your arteries. This makes it harder for blood to flow around your body and raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. HDL-cholesterol helps stop these bad fats from building up in your arteries.

Atorvastatin lowers LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels and raises HDL-cholesterol levels. This helps lower your risk of heart and blood vessel problems such as heart attack and stroke.

For high cholesterol, atorvastatin is prescribed together with a cholesterol-lowering diet. For some people, it may also be prescribed together with other cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Interactions and warnings for atorvastatin

Below, you’ll find information about atorvastatin’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of atorvastatin

Certain factors may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take atorvastatin, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for atorvastatin” section below.

Warnings for atorvastatin

Some people should not take atorvastatin, and others should take it cautiously.

Atorvastatin could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether atorvastatin is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for atorvastatin, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Atorvastatin can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to atorvastatin or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe atorvastatin. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to atorvastatin, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of atorvastatin

You should not take more atorvastatin than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much atorvastatin, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and atorvastatin

Information about atorvastatin and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Atorvastatin and pregnancy

Atorvastatin should not be taken during pregnancy. If you’re 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 atorvastatin.

Atorvastatin and breastfeeding

Atorvastatin should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re 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 atorvastatin.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know whether you have questions about atorvastatin or would like more details about it.

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

• Does my doctor need to change my dose of atorvastatin if I’m taking other drugs with it?
• Will I need monitoring or testing while taking atorvastatin?
• What lifestyle changes would be helpful to make when taking atorvastatin?
• Are there any alternative medications I can take for my condition?

Resources

• Atorvastatin calcium tablet, film coated, for oral use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/c0fe3242-c5d4-447f-8131-79c5b75703d8/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

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.