Get Informed: Lipitor
Active Ingredient(s)
Atorvastatin
What does it do?
This product is primarily used to reduce cholesterol. It works by blocking an important enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) used by the body to produce cholesterol.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 4:14 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-19 9:03 PM
Other Names
- Lipitor
- Atorvastatin
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- X
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 17 Dec 1996
- Est US Patients*
- 8,102,000
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Lipitor or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Lipitor Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Lipitor interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Lipitor used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 53,900 patients that use Lipitor (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| High Cholesterol | 97% | 
|
| High Triglycerides | 16% | 
|
| Other | 2% | 
|
How well does Lipitor work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 53,900 users taking Lipitor (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 84%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Lipitor outweigh the bad things.
- 11%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Lipitor.
Common Side Effects of Lipitor
iGuard regularly polls our more than 53,900 users taking Lipitor (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
17% of patients experience side-effects on Lipitor
4% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Lipitor
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Muscle Pain/Cramps
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Abdo Pain/Cramps, Bloating/Gas, Bone/Joint Pain, Constipation, Cough, Diarrhea, Dizziness, Drowsiness, Dryness, Grogginess/Confusion, Hair Loss, Headache, Hot Flashes, Insomnia, Loss of Libido, Numbness/Tingling, Weakness, Weight Gain
Global Patient Feedback for Lipitor (Atorvastatin) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
My doc stopped my lipitor since I changed much of my eating habits. I had a bad accident and two surgeries on my left leg that left me crippled. I use to walk a lot and cannot anymore. I still take many other meds that I'm trying to get rid of with good food and as much moving around as I can muster. Some days, I'm almost reduced to my sleeping quarters. Kefir is my new hope and I'm working on creating new kefir-based meals. I'll let yoy know if ever it gets me back in a relatively good health.
Female 64
65 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-09 02:26:49
Question/Comment:
I've taken a statin for about 1 yr. and had constant muscle/joint pain. I changed from simvistatin to lipitor and found I got more pain with Lipitor. I have stopped for 2 days and my pain has almost all gone away. Also my sex drive seems to have dryed up. (not good)
65 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-18 15:38:14
Answer/Reply:
We get our sex drive from cholesterol. Notice the word "sterol" in the word cholesterol. All your body's steroid hormones are made from cholesterol, including the male sex hormone testosterone, which is responsible for inducing sex drive.
Your not the first to mention this, and you won't be the last. Many others have reported the same experience as you, and some have found their testosterone levels to be very low after statin therapy.
53 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-08 10:19:16
Question/Comment:
I have been taking lipitor for at least 20 yrs and my cholesterol levels are below normal. At 72 years of age I have read some things that older people may benefit from higher cholesterol. Your comments??
73 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-28 16:11:42
iGuard Answer/Reply:
One study suggests that higher cholesterol in patients in their late 80s may be beneficial, but not a lot of information is available about changing parameters. Currently, the recommendations for cholesterol are the same regardless of age. If your levels are in a healthy range, speak with your doctor about the benefits of continuing or discontinuing your Lipitor.
Posted: 2010-02-07 10:08:20
Answer/Reply:
The current guidlines for cholesterol were set in 2004 by the National Chloesterol Education Program. The recommendations were made by a panel of nine NCEP physicians.
However, it should be noted that 8 of those 9 physicians had financial ties to drug companies, and the five studies that supported lowering the guidlines were funded by...(drum roll please).. the drug companies who sell us the statin drugs.
The financial conflicts of interest are available online and published by the National institutes of Health (NIH)
Its up to each individual to decide for themselves if the new cholesterol recommendations were justified or not.
53 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-08 11:02:19
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Lipitor for 2 years, will have to take it the rest of my life or do you ever get to a point you can stop taking it. Also is it bad for your liver?
69 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-23 10:31:11
iGuard Answer/Reply:
You may be able to stop taking Lipitor at some point if your total cholesterol is low enough. Other ways to lower cholesterol are by exercise and a healthy diet. Oatmeal is an excellent food to bring cholesterol down. Lipitor can have some effect on your liver; however, the most important factor is to monitor your liver function via bloodwork.
Posted: 2010-01-27 12:53:06
Answer/Reply:
Information I read, and my doctor confirmed this, that putting cinnamon into your oatmeal also helps to reduce cholesterol. I did this and it worked for me. I put about 1 tsp or more into one 1/2 cup (dry when measured) serving. I like to go heavy on the cinnamon because I like the taste, so you do not have to put that much in. Just put a shake or two in and then adjust to your taste.
49 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-10 11:44:10
Question/Comment:
I have been on Lipitor, 10 mg. for 10 years. For the last five months I have had tendonitis in my left foot and the pain radiates up my leg. It is a throbing pain like when you have a tooth ache. I have had three shots of cortisone and it has not helped. I want to know if anyone else has had this problem and if it could be related to the Lipitor. I also take Nexium and Lisinopril.
79 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-15 09:15:36
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Greater than 2% of patients taking Lipitor report pain. More commonly, muscle pain and spasms are reported with Lipitor. Muscle pain is reported rarely with Nexium but has been reported. It is possible your tendonitis is caused by the Lipitor or Nexium, but more likely that there is a different cause. Please continue to work with your physician to find the cause and best course of treatment for your tendonitis.
Posted: 2010-01-16 00:47:48
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments about
Lipitor