Lipitor

Atorvastatin

Lipitor is used to reduce cholesterol in order to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack or other heart complications. Lipitor is in a class of drugs called statins. Statins lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting, or blocking, an enzyme in the liver responsible for making cholesterol.

Patients taking Lipitor may experience some side effects, and should tell their doctors if they experience any of the following:

• diarrhea
• headache
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• dizziness
• joint pain
• sore throat
• upper respiratory infection
• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
• lack of energy
• fever
• chest pain
• swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• nausea
• extreme tiredness
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• loss of appetite
• pain in the upper right part of the stomach
• flu-like symptoms
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• rash
• hives
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• hoarseness
• pain during urination
• frequent urge to urinate

Lawsuits filed against Pfizer, Inc., maker of Lipitor in July 2006 alleged the company promoted the drug as one with a minimal health risk when it has been linked to muscular and nerve effects that can cause memory loss, nerve damage and the muscle-wasting disorder known as rhabdomyolysis.