Lipitor belongs to the class of medications known as statins, making it a lipid-altering drug. It is used in conjunction with an appropriate diet to lower levels of cholesterol produced by the liver. It lowers “bad” cholesterol and fats such as LDL and triglycerides (TG) and raises “good” cholesterol like HDL. By controlling lipid levels, Lipitor reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks. Lipitor is indicated for:

Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults

Lipitor can be used in individuals with risk factors for coronary heart disease. Risk factors include age, hypertension, smoking, decreased HDL-C, or family history of heart disease. With use, Lipitor can:

Decrease the risk of myocardial infarction (MI)

Decrease the risk of stroke

Decrease the risk of angina and revascularization procedures

Additionally, Lipitor can be used in individuals who have type 2 diabetes and risk factors for coronary heart disease like retinopathy, smoking, hypertension, or albuminuria. For these patients, Lipitor can:

Decrease the risk of MI

Decrease the risk of stroke

In adult patients that have existing coronary heart disease, Lipitor can also:

Decrease the risk of non-fatal MI

Decrease the risk of fatal and non-fatal stroke

Decrease the risk of revascularization procedures

Decrease the risk of CHF hospitalization

Decrease the risk of angina

Hyperlipidemia

Lipitor can be used:

As an adjunct to diet to decrease high levels of total cholesterol, LDL, apo B, and TG and elevate levels of HDL in individuals with primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia

As an adjunct to diet to treat individuals with increased levels of TGs

Treat individuals with primary dysbetalipoproteinemia that are not responsive to adequate diet

Decrease total cholesterol and LDL in individuals with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) in conjunction with other lipid-lowering treatments

As an adjunct to diet to decrease levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and apo B in children aged 10-17 years with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) on an adequate diet and who have an:

LDL ? 190 mg/dL OR

LDL ? 160 mg/dL AND a family history of premature cardiovascular disease OR more than 2 CVD risk factors exist

HOW DOES LIPITOR WORK?

Lipitor competitively blocks HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that converts substrates into cholesterol precursors. In animal models, Lipitor has been shown to decrease levels of cholesterol and lipoprotein through:

Inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol production by the liver

Raising the number of LDL receptors in the liver, thus increasing LDL uptake and catabolism

Decreasing LDL production and the amount of LDL particles

SIDE EFFECTS

Lipitor can cause some side effects with the most common ones including:

Diarrhea or constipation

Nausea

Gas

Heartburn

Fatigue

Headache

Mild muscle pain

Changes to blood test labs