Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) - Summary

LIPITOR SUMMARY

Lipitor^® (atorvastatin calcium) is a synthetic lipid-lowering agent. Atorvastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early and rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis.

In adult patients without clinically evident coronary heart disease, but with multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease such as age >/= 55 years, smoking, hypertension, low HDL-C, or a family history of early coronary heart disease, Lipitor is indicated to:

• Reduce the risk of myocardial infarction
• Reduce the risk for revascularization procedures and angina

Hypercholesterolemia

Lipitor is indicated:

1. as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, apo B, and TG levels and to increase HDL-C in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (heterozygous familial and nonfamilial) and mixed dyslipidemia ( Fredrickson Types IIa and IIb);
2. as an adjunct to diet for the treatment of patients with elevated serum TG levels ( Fredrickson Type IV);
3. for the treatment of patients with primary dysbetalipoproteinemia ( Fredrickson Type III) who do not respond adequately to diet;
4. to reduce total-C and LDL-C in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (eg, LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable;
5. as an adjunct to diet to reduce total-C, LDL-C, and apo B levels in boys and postmenarchal girls, 10 to 17 years of age, with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia if after an adequate trial of diet therapy the following findings are present:
   
   1. LDL-C remains >/= 190 mg/dL or
   2. LDL-C remains >/= 160 mg/dL and:
      
      • there is a positive family history of premature cardiovascular disease or
      • two or more other CVD risk factors are present in the pediatric patient

See all Lipitor indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Lipitor (Atorvastatin)

New Report Examines Efforts To Reduce The Impact Of Generic Competition For Popular Drug Lipitor
Source: Health News from Medical News Today [2013.06.15]
AARP's Public Policy Institute have released a new Rx Price Watch report examining efforts by Pfizer to reduce the impact of generic competition for the popular anti-cholesterol drug Lipitor. The report breaks down the unusually aggressive strategy reportedly undertaken by Lipitor's manufacturer before and after the drug's patent expired and discusses how the effort could become a model for other brand name drug manufacturers facing generic competition, ultimately increasing costs for consumers and publicly-funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid...

Firm Stops Making Generic Lipitor After Recall
Source: MedicineNet atorvastatin Specialty [2012.12.03]
Title: Firm Stops Making Generic Lipitor After Recall
Category: Health News
Created: 12/1/2012 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 12/3/2012 12:00:00 AM

Generic Lipitor Recall
Source: MedicineNet atorvastatin Specialty [2012.11.27]
Title: Generic Lipitor Recall
Category: Health News
Created: 11/27/2012 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/27/2012 12:00:00 AM

Statin Drugs May Increase Risk Of Diabetes
Source: Cholesterol News From Medical News Today [2013.05.24]
Certain statins - also known as cholesterol-lowering medications - could increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests. The risk was most significant in patients taking atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor), according to the study, published in BMJ...

Liptruzet Approved By FDA To Cut Cholesterol, Despite Criticism By Cardiologists
Source: Cholesterol News From Medical News Today [2013.05.05]
Liptruzet, a cholesterol-lowering drug that combines Merck's Zetia (ezetimibe) with atorvastatin (generic version of Pfizer's Lipitor) has been approved by the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration)...

more news >>

Published Studies Related to Lipitor (Atorvastatin)

A Multicentre Randomised Trial of Atorvastatin Therapy in Intensive Care Patients with Severe Sepsis. [2013]
sepsis... CONCLUSIONS: Atorvastatin therapy in

Atorvastatin with or without an antibody to PCSK9 in primary hypercholesterolemia. [2012]
LDL cholesterol levels... CONCLUSIONS: In a randomized trial involving patients with primary

Atorvastatin treatment improves diabetic polyneuropathy electrophysiological changes in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients: a double blind, randomized clinical trial. [2012]
electrophysiological parameters in diabetic neuropathy... CONCLUSION: In conclusion, treatment with statins may have a beneficial effect on

STAR VaS--Short Term Atorvastatin Regime for Vasculopathic Subjects: a randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluating perioperative atorvastatin therapy in noncardiac surgery. [2012]
large randomized trial with clinical end points... CONCLUSIONS: Administration of atorvastatin, initiated within seven days

The differential effect of statins on oxidative stress and endothelial function: atorvastatin versus pravastatin. [2012]
oxidative stress and endothelial function... CONCLUSION: In hyperlipidemic subjects with metabolic syndrome, atorvastatin is

more studies >>

Clinical Trials Related to Lipitor (Atorvastatin)

Switching to Rosuvastain Versus Adding Ezetimibe to Atorvastatin Versus Doubling the Dose of Atorvastatin in Patients With Hypercholesterolemia and Risk Factors (P03708) [Terminated]
This study assesses whether adding ezetimibe 10 mg/d to ongoing treatment with atorvastatin 10 mg/d is more effective than switching the subject to treatment with rosuvastatin 10 mg/d or doubling the dose of atorvastatin to 20 mg/d is more effective in achieving goal LDL-cholesterol of <2. 5 mmol/L. Treatment phase is 6 weeks.

To Evaluate Ezetimibe Plus Atorvastatin Versus Atorvastatin in Patients With High Cholesterol Not Controlled on Atorvastatin 40 mg. [Active, not recruiting]

Ezetimibe Plus Atorvastatin Versus Atorvastatin in Untreated Subjects With High Cholesterol (P03434) [Completed]
This study was designed to assess whether co-administration of ezetimibe 10 mg with atorvastatin 10 mg in treatment naïve subjects would be more effective than treatment with atorvastatin 10 mg alone for reducing LDL-concentrations.

To Evaluate Ezetimibe Plus Atorvastatin Versus Atorvastatin in Patients With High Cholesterol Not Controlled on Atorvastatin 20 mg [Completed]

Atorvastatin (Lipitor) to Prevent Bone Pain [Completed]
In the proposed randomized double blind cross-over placebo controlled study, the researchers intend to investigate if Atorvastatin (FDA approved statin for children) can be used to alleviate the symptom of bone pain (acute phase reaction) that is commonly associated with initial doses of pamidronate or zoledronic acid, and also the mechanism that underlies this proposed beneficial effect of Atorvastatin. The primary outcome studied will be alleviation of bone pain by Atorvastatin compared to placebo by visual analogue pain scale in children treated with pamidronate or zoledronic acid. The secondary outcome investigated will be changes in blood count and γδT cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokine levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and gamma interferon (γ-IFN) following treatment with Atorvastatin compared to placebo.

more trials >>

Reports of Suspected Lipitor (Atorvastatin) Side Effects

Myalgia (581),  Death (580),  Myocardial Infarction (379),  Blood Cholesterol Increased (372),  Cerebrovascular Accident (354),  Pain in Extremity (338),  Muscle Spasms (287),  Arthralgia (286),  Pain (279),  Malaise (256), more >>

PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Lipitor review by 44 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		No Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		incontinence
Dosage & duration:		4mg taken daily for the period of 3 years - ongoing
Other conditions:		continual lack of control over bladder due to chemical imbalance
Other drugs taken:		none
		Reported Results
Benefits:		regulated bladder control to allow patient (me) to return to a regular life and not have to modify all movements by where the nearest bathroon is located.
Side effects:		none
Comments:		Single capsule taken in morning.

Lipitor review by 48 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Considerably Effective
Side effects:		No Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		high cholesterol
Dosage & duration:		20mg taken daily for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:		none
Other drugs taken:		none
		Reported Results
Benefits:		lower cholesterol
Side effects:		none
Comments:		daily with water at nite. and every three month blood test for liver issues.

Lipitor review by 53 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Ineffective
Side effects:		Extremely Severe Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		High Cholesterol
Dosage & duration:		20 mg taken daily for the period of 2 weeks
Other conditions:		mitral valve murmer
Other drugs taken:		none
		Reported Results
Benefits:		I did not take the drug long enough to see any substantial beneficial effects
Side effects:		I developed terrible weakness and pain in bilateral knees. I went from being extremely active to being unable to walk up a flight of stairs. It felt as though my knees would crumble under me.By the second week, I could barely walk up more than 3 steps. My doctor took me off the medication immediately, but the effects lasted about 6 months.
Comments:		My physician then tried a series of different medications for cholesterol. I was on Crestor, Simvastatin, and Zocor, all with the same side effect. My physician then ordered a lipid blood test to determine if the type of lipid found in my blood would promote cardiac disease, which thank goodness it didn't. I have a family history of elevated cholesterol: all the women in the family are on one of the cholesterol lowering medications: I am the only one in my family that experienced the above side effects.