Inhouse Pharmacy (UK) Lipitor, Medication, Drug, Cholesterol, reduce cholesterol

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions - Lipitor

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Lipitor Information

LIPITOR

What Lipitor is used for

Lipitor belongs to a group of medicines called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and is used to lower high cholesterol.

Everyone has cholesterol in their blood. It is a type of blood fat needed by the body for things such as building cell walls, making bile acids (which help to digest food) and some hormones. However, too much cholesterol can be a problem.

Cholesterol is present in many foods and is also made in your body by the liver. If your body makes too much cholesterol or you take too much cholesterol in your diet, then your level becomes too high.

A problem is more likely to occur with certain diseases or if you have a family history of high cholesterol.

There are different types of cholesterol. LDL is the 'bad' cholesterol that can block your blood vessels. HDL cholesterol is the 'good' cholesterol that is thought to remove the bad cholesterol from the blood vessels.

When you have high levels of 'bad' cholesterol in your blood, it may begin to 'stick' to the inside of your blood vessels instead of being carried to the parts of the body where it is needed. Over time, this can form hard areas, also called plaque, on the walls of your blood vessels, making it more difficult for the blood to flow. This blocking of your blood vessels can lead to several types of blood vessel disease, heart attack, angina and stroke.

There is another type of blood fat called triglyceride which is a source of energy. However, high levels of triglyceride can be associated with a low level of 'good' cholesterol and may increase your risk of heart disease.

In some patients, Lipitor is used to treat high cholesterol and high triglycerides together.

Lipitor does not reduce the cholesterol that comes from fat in food.

Therefore, when you are taking Lipitor, you also need to follow a low fat diet and other measures, such as exercise and weight control.

In most people, there are no symptoms of abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Your doctor can measure your levels with a simple blood test.

Your doctor may have prescribed Lipitor for another reason.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Lipitor has been prescribed for you.

Lipitor is not addictive.

Before you take Lipitor

When you must not take it

Do not take Lipitor if:

you have an allergy to Lipitor or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Some of the symptoms of allergy may include skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face.
you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Your baby may absorb this medicine in the womb or from breast milk and therefore there is a possibility of harm to the baby.
you have active liver disease
you have had muscle pain, tenderness or weakness from other medicines used to treat high cholesterol or triglycerides
the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering
the expiry date on the pack has passed. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work or it may make you unwell.

If you are not sure whether to start taking Lipitor, talk to your doctor.

Before you start to take it

You must tell your doctor:

If you intend to become pregnant or plan to breast feed. Lipitor should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding
If you have any other health problems/medical conditions including
- liver problems
- kidney problems
- muscle pain, tenderness or weakness from other medicines used to treat cholesterol or triglycerides
If you have not told your doctor about any of the these medical conditions, tell him/her before you take Lipitor.
If you are consuming alcohol regularly

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines or remedies, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with Lipitor. These include the following:

digoxin, a medicine used to treat some heart problems
the antibiotics erythromycin, clarithromycin and rifampicin
phenytoin, a medicine used to treat epilepsy
oral contraceptives
other medicines to treat high cholesterol or triglycerides
medicines that suppress the immune system
medicines used to treat some fungal infections
troglitazone, a medicine used to help control high blood glucose in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

These medicines may be affected by Lipitor or may affect how well it works. Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or to avoid while taking Lipitor.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you take Lipitor.

It is also possible that Lipitor may be affected by grapefruit juice if taken together.

How to take Lipitor

Use Lipitor only when prescribed by your doctor.

Lipitor has been prescribed for you by your doctor for a very specific purpose.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.

These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

Your doctor will decide the dose, depending on your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The usual starting dose is 10 mg once daily. The dose may need to be increased to have the best effect. The highest dose is 80 mg once daily.

How and when to take it

Take your dose of Lipitor once a day at the same time. It does not matter whether you take it with or without food. Swallow Lipitor with a glass of water or other liquid.

How long to take it

Lipitor helps to lower your levels of cholesterol but does not cure your condition. Therefore you must continue to take it as directed by your doctor if you expect to keep your levels lowered. You may have to take this kind of medicine for the rest of your life. If you stop taking Lipitor, your levels may rise again.

If you forget to take it

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablet(s) as you would normally.

If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.

If you have trouble remembering to take your tablets, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

While you are using Lipitor

Things you must do

Have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked when your doctor says.

This helps to make sure that Lipitor is working.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Lipitor if you are about to start on any new medicine.

Things you must not do

Do not give Lipitor to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you have.

Do not use Lipitor to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to do so.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Lipitor affects you.

Lipitor generally does not cause any problems with your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. However, as with many other medicines, Lipitor may cause dizziness in some people.

Side Effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Lipitor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

All medicines have side effects. Sometimes they are serious but most of the time they are not. You may need urgent medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you. They are mild side effects of Lipitor:

constipation, diarrhoea, wind
heartburn or indigestion
stomach or belly pain, nausea
headache
trouble sleeping

Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department of your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following. These are rare, possibly serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention:

swelling of the face, lips, mouth throat or neck which may cause difficulty in swallowing and breathing
unexpected muscle pain
tingling in the hands or feet
rash, itching

Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.

Some people may get other side effects while taking Lipitor. Do not be alarmed by the list of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

After using Lipitor

Storage

Keep your tablets in the packet until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the packet, they may not keep well.

Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees C.

Do not store Lipitor or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave your tablets in the car or on window sills.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep your tablets where young children cannot reach them.

A locked cupboard at least one and a half metres off the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking Lipitor, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.

Further Information

This is not all the information that is available on Lipitor. If you have any more questions or are not sure about anything ask your doctor or pharmacist.