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What is Lipitor? |
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Drug Uses
Lipitor is administered in combination with a diet adjustment, for the reduction of cholesterol levels and fatty substances contained in the blood. The drug works by hampering the production of cholesterol within the patient’s body, thereby lowering the chances for incurring a stroke, cardiac failure, and other heart ailments in individuals with coronary cardiac disease, or type II diabetes. Lipitor may also be administered for conditions and purposes other than those just mentioned.
How to Take Lipitor
Take Lipitor exactly as instructed; do not ingest it in excessive amounts, or take it for periods longer than advised. The medication may be taken with water if preferred, with or without a previous intake of food. It is normally taken once a day, but do try to take the dose at the same estimated times each day. To ensure that the drug is beneficial to your condition, you may need to undergo blood tests on a regular basis. Your liver’s condition may also be regularly checked during treatment. As a treatment for high levels of cholesterol, you may need to take Lipitor on a long-term basis.
Drug Precautions
Avoid the intake of foods which have high cholesterol content; the medication will not be as efficient in reducing cholesterol if you do not subscribe to a cholesterol-lowering dietary regimen. Do not take alcohol while taking Lipitor; it can increase your triglyceride levels significantly, and may also cause damage to your liver. Take extra precaution if you bear diabetes, a renal or muscle disorder, and an underactive thyroid. Lipitor can cause severe birth defects in an unborn child if it is taken during pregnancy; do not take it if you are conceiving.
Drug Interactions
Numerous medications can interact with the effectiveness of Lipitor, including antifungal drugs like itraconazole and fluconazole; gemfibrozil or fenofibrate; digoxin; niacin; medications which can debilitate the immune system, including chemotherapy drugs, sirolimus, tacrolimus, and steroids; erythromycin or clarithromycin; and medicines for the treatment of HIV or AIDS, including nelfinavir, lopinavir-ritonavir, and indinavir.
Side Effects
You may acquire an allergic reaction or other serious symptoms, which may include muscle tenderness and pain, feebleness with fever, indications of the flu, or dark-colored urine. If you experience these conditions, stop your intake and seek medical attention as soon as possible. More common effects may involve a stuffed nose, muscle pain, a slight stomach pain or heartburn; constipated bowels, bloating, itching, gas, and skin rashes.
Missed Dose
If you forget to take a scheduled dose, make up for it as soon as you can, provided that the next intake is not yet due. Otherwise, skip over the missed dose and follow your usual dosing schedule.
Overdose
Seek medical attention immediately if you believe that you have taken Lipitor in excessive amounts. An overdose of the drug is not supposed to cause life-threatening conditions and symptoms.
Storage
Keep Lipitor in a tightly-closed container, and within normal room temperatures. Store it in areas far from heat and moisture sources, away from children’s reach.
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