Pros & Cons
What are the pros and cons of Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium)?
- If you have not been able to bring your cholesterol numbers down with diet and exercise alone, Lipitor can help lower your bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride numbers while raising your good cholesterol number (HDL).
- By keeping cholesterol under control, Lipitor lowers your risk of potentially serious health conditions such as heart attack and stroke, especially if you already have a high risk for them due to a history of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or smoking.
- Statins are the first choice of treatment for people with high cholesterol due to their efficacy and safety profile. Lipitor is one of the most potent statin medications.
- Lipitor can cause side effects such as muscle aches, kidney injury, and liver damage. The medicine may need to be discontinued if these problems occur.
- The risk of serious Lipitor side effects is higher in older individuals (age 65+) and those who drink alcohol regularly or have a history of liver disease, kidney disease, or diabetes.
- Lipitor can interact with grapefruit juice in large quantities (more than 1 liter per day); however, an occasional glass of grapefruit juice while on Lipitor is believed to be safe.
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