People's Pharmacy

Lipitor

Generic Name:atorvastatin

Revised:4/1/2000

Table of Contents

Side Effects and Interactions

Lipitor has relatively few side effects and most people tolerate it well.

Some adverse reactions that may occur include headache, stomach ache, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, skin rash, and muscle or joint aches.

Muscle aches, tenderness or weakness could be a sign of a serious reaction called rhabdomyolysis or myopathy, and call for a test of kidney function.

Kidney failure might be the outcome of untreated myopathy. Report any symptoms to your physician promptly.

The danger of rhabdomyolysis or myopathy is increased when Lipitor is combined with certain other drugs such as the transplant drug cyclosporine, antibiotics like erythromycin or Biaxin, cholesterol-lowering medicines such as Lopid or niacin, and antifungal drugs like Nizoral or Sporanox.

Lipitor may increase blood levels of the heart drug Lanoxin, so close monitoring is advised.

Blood levels of oral contraceptives may also be increased in patients on Lipitor.

Antacids such as Maalox and the cholesterol drug Colestid can reduce absorption of Lipitor if they are taken at the same time. There is no indication this reduces the effectiveness of Lipitor.

The herb St. John's wort might speed elimination of Lipitor from the body, which could reduce its effectiveness.

There is a remote but untested possibility that peppermint could increase the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Lipitor. These agents work by inhibiting the enzyme HMG CoA reductase, and menthol has a similar action.

The herb gotu kola may raise cholesterol levels and should not be combined with cholesterol-lowering medications such as Lipitor.

Check with your physician and pharmacist to make sure Lipitor is safe in combination with any other drugs and herbs you take.