Atorvastatin 20 Mg and Side Effects

Atorvastatin is a type of statin drug that lowers the levels of blood cholesterol. It prevents the production of cholesterol in the liver by blocking an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase that is responsible for making cholesterol. 

Atorvastatin- An Effective Statin Therapy for Lowering Blood Cholesterol

All statins, including Atorvastatin, lowers the levels of cholesterol in the blood. The statin therapy is hugely beneficial in reducing total cholesterol as well as Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol is referred to as bad cholesterol, which is responsible for causing cardiovascular health events such as heart attack or stroke. Lowering bad cholesterol can reduce the risk of having such heart problems. Several lifestyle changes can help improve your cholesterol levels. Your health care specialist may recommend you to religiously follow a healthy diet and exercise routine for six months to one year. If they don’t help, your health care provider may prescribe a statin therapy to lower blood cholesterol. However, it is essential to keep up with the lifestyle modifications suggested by your health care specialist to maintain the healthy levels of cholesterol in the blood. Eating a healthy diet and being physically active can make your cholesterol-lowering drug more effective. Your health care provider will help you choose the best diet plan and exercise that can help you gain control over blood cholesterol.

Dosage Instructions for Atorvastatin

Health care specialists usually recommend one Atorvastatin tablet a day. The tablet should not be a break, crushed or chewed; it needs to be swallowed with water. One needs to take the statin drug regularly, so it doesn’t matter at what time you make it. However, it is best to take it at the same time daily as this also helps you to stick to your routine without skipping a dose. The following advice will help you decide when to take Atorvastatin.

A lot of people think they need to take their cholesterol-lowering drugs at night, which is not valid. The statement is right for specific prescriptions of the statin class. Simvastatin is a medication of the statin group which is generally taken at night. The reason for this is that Simvastatin doesn’t stay at a high level in the body system, and hence, it works well within a few minutes of taking its dose. On the other hand, other statin drugs such as Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin both remain in the body at a steadier level so the dose can be taken at any time of the day. Taking Atorvastatin at a fixed time will make it easier for you to follow the treatment regimen.

Moreover, this statin drug doesn’t upset the stomach, so it doesn’t matter whether you take it before or after a meal. But the cholesterol-lowering drug can interact with grapefruit, so avoid taking medicine with grapefruit juice. If you accidentally miss a dose, please avoid taking two doses at the same time to compensate the missed one. In case of overdose, speak to your health care provider if you are concerned about overdosing. Atorvastatin is unlikely to cause any harm.

Possible Side Effects of Atorvastatin

Most people taking following Atorvastatin therapy don’t experience any side effects. However, like other medicines, Atorvastatin may cause unwanted effects. Common side effects associated with the use of Atorvastatin are a headache, back pain, nosebleeds, feeling sick, sore throat, joint pain, constipation, and cold-like symptoms.

If you experience any of the above-mentioned side effects, keep taking medicine because these can rarely cause any serious issues and they disappear after some time as you get used to the medicine. Report any unexplained muscle weakness or pain to your health care specialist.

Serious side effects associated with the use of Atorvastatin are rare, and these include:

1.       Signs of liver problems- yellowing of the skin or eyes

2.       Signs of kidney damage- muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, and cramps

3.       Sign of pancreas problems- severe pain in the stomach.

4.       Symptoms of lung disease- A cough feeling, shortness of breath, weight loss.

Atorvastatin is generally well tolerated by most people, but the medicine does have side effects. Most of the side effects go away as your body adjusts to the medications. But it is always important to tell your health care specialist about any unusual signs and symptoms you might develop during statin treatment. This helps you to get rid of those unwanted effects as soon as possible. Your health care provider may want to make dose adjustments such as decreasing a dose or trying a different statin. Never discontinue the treatment without discussing with your health care specialist. You should not take Atorvastatin if you are pregnant or are suffering from any form of liver disease. It is wise to consider your medical reasons and lifestyle choices while choosing treatment.