LIPITOR Side Effects
With more than 15 years of research, LIPITOR has been studied in more than 400 ongoing and completed studies involving over 80,000 patients.1 It is generally well tolerated. LIPITOR can be taken at any time of day with or without food. Side effects are usually mild and may go away.
Before You Start LIPITOR
Always talk to your doctor before starting or changing treatment. Ask your doctor what to expect when taking LIPITOR. Before starting LIPITOR, tell your doctor:
- About all medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements
- If you have muscle aches or weakness
- If you drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol daily
- If you have diabetes or kidney problems
- If you have a thyroid problem
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Upset stomach and stomach pain
- Rash
- Muscle and joint pain
Serious Side Effects
LIPITOR can cause serious side effects. These side effects have happened only to a small number of people. Your doctor can monitor you for them. These side effects usually go away if your dose is lowered or LIPITOR is stopped. These serious side effects include:
- Muscle problems. LIPITOR can cause serious muscle problems that can lead to kidney problems, including kidney failure. You have a higher chance for muscle problems if you are taking certain other medicines with LIPITOR.
- Liver problems. LIPITOR can cause liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking LIPITOR, and while you take it.
Call your doctor right away if you:
- Have muscle problems like weakness, tenderness, or pain that happen without a good reason, especially if you also have a fever or feel more tired than usual
- Have nausea and vomiting
- Pass brown or dark-colored urine
- Feel more tired than usual
- Notice the skin and whites of your eyes become yellow
- Have stomach pain
Who Should NOT Take LIPITOR
- Women who are pregnant or think they may be pregnant, or may become pregnant. LIPITOR may harm your unborn baby. If you get pregnant, stop taking LIPITOR and call your doctor right away
- Women who are breastfeeding. LIPITOR can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby
- People with liver problems
- People allergic to LIPITOR or any of its ingredients
Reference:
- Data on file. Pfizer Inc, New York, NY.
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LIPITOR is a prescription drug. It is used in patients with multiple risk factors for heart disease such as family history, high blood pressure, age, low HDL ("good" cholesterol) or smoking to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. When diet and exercise alone are not enough, LIPITOR is used along with a low-fat diet and exercise to lower cholesterol.
LIPITOR is also used in patients with type 2 diabetes and at least one other risk factor for heart disease such as high blood pressure, smoking or complications of diabetes, including eye disease and protein in urine, to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
LIPITOR is not for everyone. It is not for those with liver problems. And it is not for women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant.
If you take LIPITOR, tell your doctor if you feel any new muscle pain or weakness. This could be a sign of rare but serious muscle side effects. Tell your doctor about all medications you take. This may help avoid serious drug interactions. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver function before and during treatment and may adjust your dose. The most common side effects are gas, constipation, stomach pain and heartburn. They tend to be mild and often go away.
When diet and exercise alone are not enough, adding LIPITOR can help. LIPITOR is one of many cholesterol-lowering treatment options that you and your doctor can consider.
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The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.
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