Lipitor Generic

Lipitor – having Atorvastatin as its active ingredient – is a medication used to help reduce the levels of bad cholesterol while increasing the good cholesterol in the blood. Lipitor works by reducing the high levels of cholesterol and any other fatty substances in the blood, that may eventually build up along the walls of your blood vessels – and thus, would decrease or worse, block the flow of blood to your heart.

This is ideally used alongside proper diet, exercise and weight-loss – so as to eliminate chances of stroke and heart attack to occur. Also, by taking Lipitor, the chances of undergoing heart surgery can be decreased – especially for those with heart diseases or are developing such disease.

Some Precautions Before Taking Lipitor

Before you start taking Lipitor, it is of utmost importance to first let your physician know your current medical condition. If you have chronic muscular disease or you are suffering from any type of liver disease, you may not be prescribed with this medicine or may just be prescribed with a lower dose of Lipitor. However, you must be under the close monitoring of your physician because Lipitor may have detrimental effects on your liver.

The same applies to those who are suffering from any alcohol-related problems or for patients who just have undergone major surgery recently – as the effects of Lipitor may be reduced by having such cases. Patients with diabetes and thyroid problems are not recommended to take Lipitor as well.

Most importantly, if you are pregnant or planning to become one – you should not be taking Lipitor as it may harm your unborn baby. Also, note that you should not take the medication if you are breastfeeding so as not to pass Lipitor into your breast milk.

The Proper Way Of Taking Lipitor

You must always take Lipitor exactly as prescribed by your physician. Also, do not attempt to alter or change your Lipitor dosage, unless you have consulted with your physician about it.

Lipitor may be taken with or without food. But make sure that when you take Lipitor, you do not break the tablet. This is normally taken once a day.

If ever you miss your Lipitor dosage, take it as soon as you remember – but if it has been more than 12 hours since you missed your last dose, then it is best to wait for your schedule of taking Lipitor. You should never take two doses of Lipitor at one time. In case you have taken too much of the drug or you have overdosed, immediately seek for medical help or call your physician.

Some Lipitor Side Effects You Should Know

As you take Lipitor, you may later on notice some common side effects which include:
• Muscle and joint pain
• Upset Stomach
• Diarrhea
• Tendon problems
• Tiredness

Further side effects may also manifest, by which you may already be needing some assistance or medical attention. These include:
• Allergic skin reaction
• Stomach pain
• You skin and the white of your eyes become yellow
• Nausea and vomiting
• Swelling of the throat, tongue, lips or face
• Difficulty in breathing or swallowing