This includes muscle pain or weakness. And it applies to all statin drugs , including Lipitor. They can review the risks and benefits of this medication. It was reported by people taking the drug during clinical trials. But this side effect has been reported with all statin medications.
But possible symptoms of liver damage can include:. In extremely rare cases, serious liver injury and even liver failure has occurred with Lipitor. This helps your doctor notice abnormal liver function before it becomes serious. These include myopathy and rhabdomyolysis , which are discussed in more detail just below.
With myopathy you have muscle pain and weakness. And you also have high levels of a substance called creatinine kinase in your blood. Rhabdomyolysis is a severe and possibly life threatening muscle condition. It can lead to problems with your kidneys, including kidney failure. It usually requires treatment in a hospital.
They can order lab tests to check your creatinine kinase levels. Your doctor will have you stop taking Lipitor if they confirm you have myopathy as a side effect. If you notice symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, immediately call your doctor or seek emergency medical help.
Rhabdomyolysis is treatable. As with most drugs, Lipitor can cause an allergic reaction in some people. For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Lipitor.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Lipitor. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include those listed below. Liver problems. You should not take Lipitor if you have liver problems. People with liver problems have a higher risk of side effects from Lipitor, including serious ones such as myopathy.
With myopathy, you have muscle pain and weakness. Your doctor can recommend safer treatments for your condition if you have liver problems. Kidney problems. People with kidney problems may have a higher risk of myopathy if they take Lipitor. Tell your doctor if you have kidney issues. Your doctor can help determine whether treatment with Lipitor is safe for you. Heavy alcohol use. Heavy alcohol consumption can cause liver damage, which is a possible side effect of Lipitor.
People who consume large amounts of alcohol and take Lipitor may have an even higher risk of liver damage. If you have more than two alcoholic drinks daily, be sure to tell your doctor before you start taking Lipitor.
Untreated hypothyroidism. People with untreated hypothyroidism may have a higher risk of myopathy with Lipitor.
Your doctor can help determine whether Lipitor is safe for you. Recent stroke or transient ischemic attack TIA. Taking Lipitor within 6 months of having a stroke or transient ischemic attack TIA can increase your risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
A TIA is also called a ministroke. With a hemorrhagic stroke, you have bleeding in your brain. Always talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider before taking Lipitor to help avoid negative interactions with other medications. As with all medications, Lipitor can produce unwanted side effects.
However, Lipitor can only prevent life-threatening illnesses if the medication is taken every day over the long term. Most importantly, take Lipitor as directed at the same time every day. Follow all the directions given by a healthcare provider or provided with the prescription.
Most people will take 10—80 mg per day. Do not change this dose, skip a dose, or stop the medicine without talking to a doctor or healthcare professional. It can help to schedule the daily dose for major events in the day, such as breakfast, dinner, or bedtime. Before getting a Lipitor prescription, make sure the doctor or other healthcare professional prescribing Lipitor is fully informed about your medical history including:.
Be sure to keep all follow-up appointments. Blood tests may be necessary to ensure the drug is working and not causing side effects. Discovering side effects early prevents them from turning into serious medical conditions. Keep watch for any muscle problems including muscle aches, tenderness, or any unusual weakness. Even if it seems like nothing, tell a doctor so that tests for muscle damage can be given.
The same applies to any changes in thinking or memory. If mental abilities seem to be deteriorating, talk to the prescribing doctor. Lipitor can also damage the liver, so look for signs of liver impairment such as jaundice yellowing of the skin , dark urine, tiredness, or stomach pain. You may need to switch to a different medication or discontinue statins altogether if you experience any muscle, liver, or cognitive problems.
Skip to main content Search for a topic or drug. Lipitor side effects and how to avoid them Lipitor is a statin that helps lower cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. By SingleCare Team Apr. Top Reads in Drug Info. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.
If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of e-mail communications at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.
This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks. Products and services. Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks Statins are effective at lowering cholesterol and protecting against a heart attack and stroke, although they may lead to side effects for some people.
By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Controlling cholesterol with statins. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed Jan. Rosenson RS. Statins: Actions, side effects and administration. Rosenson RS, et al. Statin muscle-related adverse events. Ferri FF.
Statin-induced muscle syndromes. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Philadelphia, Pa. Adhyaru BB, et al. Safety and efficacy of statin therapy. Nature Reviews Cardiology. Alonso R, et al. Diagnosis and management of statin intolerance. Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis. Mach F, et al.
Adverse effects of statin therapy: Perception vs. European Heart Journal. About cholesterol. American Heart Association.
0コメント