Therefore it is vital that you never run out of statins and keep on top of your prescriptions. Companies such as RXLive provide prescription management services that allow you to order medication from the comfort of your own home.
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Therefore, you may wish to sign-up for the free service to ensure you never miss a statin again! Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb uterus are found elsewhere in….
What is a support bubble? A support bubble is a network of two households who meet the eligibility rules to…. Alternatively use our online system. Health Other news Health. These posts focus on evidenced based answers to clinical questions related to patients seen by our students in the clinics or on the wards.
Prior to publication, each commentary is thoroughly reviewed for content by a faculty member. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors statins are the most powerful drugs used for lowering LDL cholesterol, with median reductions in the range of 30 to 63 percent. Patients have traditionally been instructed by their physicians to take statins in the evening for maximal effect. For example, Lovastatin, 8 Fluvastatin, 9 and Simvastatin 10 all have half-lives less than six hours.
Thus, in order to achieve maximal LDL lowering, it has been advised to administer statins in the evening in order to inhibit the enzyme while it is most active. These statins have significantly longer half-lives 14 and 19 hours, respectively 12,13 than their older counterparts, therefore calling into question the importance of morning versus evening administration. As might be expected based on their slower metabolism, studies have in fact demonstrated that the LDL-lowering efficacy of Atorvastatin 14,15 and Rosuvastatin 16 is independent of the time of day of drug administration.
Similarly, the efficacy of extended-release Fluvastatin was also recently shown to be uninfluenced by the time of intake. Because treatment with statins is usually chronic, or even lifelong, compliance to therapy is essential.
Clinicians should therefore be aware that not all statins have similar pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and many statins can achieve equal LDL-lowering efficacy and arguably improved compliance when administered in the morning as compared with the evening. References: 1. Levy, RI. A quarter century of drug treatment of dyslipoproteinemia, with a focus on the new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor fluvastatin. Circulation ; 87 4 Suppl :III Comparative dose efficacy study of atorvastatin versus simvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, and fluvastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia the CURVES study.
Am J Cardiol ; Rosenson, RS. Rosuvastatin: a new inhibitor of HMG-coA reductase for the treatment of dyslipidemia. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther ; Randomised trial of cholesterol lowering in patients with coronary heart disease: the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study 4S. Atorvastatin On this page About atorvastatin Key facts Who can and cannot take atorvastatin How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.
About atorvastatin Atorvastatin belongs to a group of medicines called statins. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? It's usual to take atorvastatin once a day.
The most common side effects are headaches, feeling sick nausea , diarrhoea and cold-like symptoms. Do not take atorvastatin if you're pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding. Keep taking atorvastatin even if you feel well, as you will still be getting the benefits. Most people with high cholesterol don't have any symptoms.
Atorvastatin is also called by the brand name Lipitor. Tell your doctor if you : have had an allergic reaction to atorvastatin or any other medicines in the past have liver or kidney problems are trying to get pregnant, think you might be pregnant, you're already pregnant, or you're breastfeeding have severe lung disease have previously had a stroke caused by bleeding into the brain drink large amounts of alcohol have an underactive thyroid have had muscular side effects when taking a statin in the past have had, or have, a muscle disorder including fibromyalgia Lipitor chewable tablets contain a substance called aspartame - check with your doctor before taking these if you have phenylketonuria a rare inherited disorder of protein metabolism.
Dosage The usual dose for adults is between 10mg and 80mg a day. What if I forget to take it? What if I take too much? Taking an extra dose of atorvastatin by accident is unlikely to harm you. Common side effects These common side effects of atorvastatin happen in more than 1 in people. Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away: feeling sick nausea or indigestion headaches aches and pains in your back and joints nosebleeds sore throat cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, blocked nose or sneezing constipation or wind diarrhoea Report any unexplained muscle aches and pains, tenderness or weakness to a doctor straight away.
Serious side effects Serious side effects when taking atorvastatin are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people. Stop taking atorvastatin and call a doctor if you get: muscle pain, tenderness, weakness or cramps - these can be signs of muscle breakdown and kidney damage yellow skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or if you have pale poo and dark pee - this can be a sign of liver problems a skin rash with pink-red blotches, especially on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet severe stomach pain - this can be a sign of pancreas problems a cough, feeling short of breath, and weight loss - this can be a sign of lung disease Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to atorvastatin.
Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: feeling sick nausea or indigestion - stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. It might help to take your atorvastatin after a meal or snack.
If you continue to get symptoms of indigestion ask your pharmacist to recommend an antacid. Contact your doctor if your symptoms continue for more than a few days or if they get worse. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking atorvastatin. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe. You may need a blood test to check what might be causing it.
You can also ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. If the symptoms last longer than a week ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice. If the symptoms return when you stop taking the painkillers ask your doctor for advice. Try to exercise more regularly, for example, by going for a daily walk or run. If this doesn't help, talk to your pharmacist or doctor. Watch this short video about how to treat constipation. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.
Atorvastatin and breastfeeding It's not known if atorvastatin gets into breast milk, but it may cause problems for your baby. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:.
Medicines that may not mix well with atorvastatin include: some antibiotics and antifungals some HIV medicines some hepatitis C medicines warfarin stops blood clotting ciclosporin treats psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis colchicine a medicine for gout contraceptive pills verapamil, diltiazem , amlodipine for high blood pressure and heart problems amiodarone makes your heart stable If you're taking atorvastatin and need to take one of these medicines, your doctor may: prescribe a lower dose of atorvastatin prescribe a different statin medicine recommend that you stop taking atorvastatin for a while These are not all the medicines that can interfere with atorvastatin.
Mixing atorvastatin with herbal remedies and supplements St John's wort, a herbal medicine taken for depression , reduces the amount of atorvastatin in your blood, so it doesn't work as well.
Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. How does atorvastatin work? How long do statins take to work? How long will I take atorvastatin for? Are statins safe? Is it safe to take atorvastatin for a long time? Statins have been used for nearly 30 years to lower cholesterol.
Is atorvastatin addictive? What will happen if I come off it? Does it help to take supplements together with statins? Will taking atorvastatin increase my risk of diabetes?
How does it compare with other medicines for high cholesterol? There are several other statin medicines for lowering your cholesterol, including: fluvastatin pravastatin rosuvastatin simvastatin If you have a side effect with one statin, it may not happen with another.
Can I drive or ride a bike? Yes, you can drive or cycle while taking atorvastatin. Will it reduce my fertility? Will it stop my contraception working? If you have any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
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