What is atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin is a prescription medicine in the statin family. It lowers the amount of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol produced by the liver and helps reduce cholesterol circulating in the blood.
It works by blocking an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase, which is involved in cholesterol production.
Why is it commonly prescribed?
Doctors commonly prescribe atorvastatin to:
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Lower high LDL cholesterol
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Reduce the risk of heart attacks
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Reduce the risk of ischemic strokes
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Lower the risk of other cardiovascular complications in people at increased risk
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Help prevent cardiovascular events in people who already have conditions such as coronary artery disease
An important point is that atorvastatin isn’t prescribed simply because someone has “high cholesterol.” The decision usually considers the person’s overall cardiovascular risk, cholesterol levels, age, and medical history.
What should you know while taking it?
Some people experience muscle aches, digestive symptoms, or headache, although many people have no significant side effects. Rarely, statins can cause serious muscle injury or liver problems.
Certain medicines and large amounts of grapefruit/grapefruit juice can increase atorvastatin levels and the risk of side effects.
Don’t stop atorvastatin without talking to your prescriber. Stopping it can remove its protective cardiovascular effect, particularly if you’ve previously had a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular disease.
If you’d like, I can also explain what happens to your body after taking atorvastatin for 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year .
