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Side effects of atorvastatin may include:
Abdominal pain, constipation, gas, indigestion
Why should this drug not be prescribed?
Never take Caduet during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Avoid Caduet if you have liver disease, or if the drug gives you an allergic reaction.
Special warnings about this medication
There is a slight chance of liver damage from the atorvastatin contained in Caduet. Your doctor may order a blood test to check your liver function before you start taking the drug, again at 12 weeks after you begin therapy or your dosage is increased, and periodically thereafter. If the tests reveal a problem, you may have to stop using the drug.
Drugs like atorvastatin, one of the ingredients in Caduet, have occasionally been known to damage muscle tissue. Be sure to tell you doctor immediately if you notice any unexplained muscle tenderness, weakness, or pain, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. Your doctor may want to do a blood test to check for signs of muscle damage.
Check with your doctor before you stop taking Caduet. You may need to reduce the medication slowly.
Your doctor will prescribe Caduet with caution if you have certain heart conditions or liver disease. Make sure your doctor is aware of all your medical problems before you start therapy with Caduet. Although very rare, if you have severe heart disease, you may experience an increase in frequency and duration of angina attacks, or even have a heart attack, when you are starting on Caduet or when your dosage is increased.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking this medication
If you take Caduet with certain other drugs, the effects of
either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially
important to check with your doctor before combining Caduet with
any of the following:
Antacids such as Maalox TC Suspension
Cimetidine
Colestipol (Colestid)
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Erythromycin (E.E.S., Erythrocin, others)
Fluconazole (Diflucan)
Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Niacin (Niaspan, Niacor, Slo-Niacin)
Oral contraceptives
Spironolactone (Aldactone)
