Lipitor (Generic)

Generic Lipitor is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, prescribed to decrease cholesterol and triglycerides levels in blood, which in turn prevents strokes and heart attacks.

The medication should be administered orally every day, during meals or otherwise, according to your doctor's instructions. Individual prescriptions concerning the dosage are defined depending on your health condition and response to treatment. It may take up to two weeks for the medication to have a full effect. Do not stop taking the medication even if the symptoms have subsided.

DO NOT use the medication if you are allergic to it. If you experience any symptoms associated with allergies such as difficulty breathing, hives, swollen tongue etc., stop using the medication and seek urgent medical help.

Contact a medical specialist immediately if you experience any of the following: unusual muscle pain, weakness or tenderness; memory problems and confusion; fatigue and high temperature; dark-colored urine, increased or decreased urination, clay-colored stools; weight gain or loss; dry mouth, thirst, hunger, sleepiness, dry skin, blurred vision; nausea, lack of appetite, fruity breath, pain in the upper stomach; yellow-colored skin and eyes.

Common side effects of Generic Lipitor include: moderate muscle pain, mild nausea and diarrhea.

Note that this list does not include all possible side effects. Other side effects might occur depending on individual health conditions.

The medication is not recommended to patients with liver disorders.

Tell your doctor of your medical history before taking Generic Lipitor, especially heart disorders, sight problems, thyroid disorders, seizures, serious infections, recent surgeries, low blood pressure and allergies (especially to “statin” drugs).

Limit the consumption of alcohol as it may increase the probability of side effects. Elderly patients are more prone to side effects.

Generic Lipitor must not be used during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or suspect pregnancy, notify your doctor immediately. To reduce the chances of accidental pregnancy, it is recommended to use effective birth control methods while taking Generic Lipitor. The medication can pas into breast milk and cause fatal harm to a nursing infant.

Generic Lipitor may interact with various medications. Notify your medical specialist about other medications you are taking, especially: isoniazid; birth control pills; imatinib (Gleevec); spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldactazide); dalfopristin/quinupristin (Synercid), rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rifamate), telithromycin (Ketek) or other antibiotics; cimetidine (Tagamet); conivaptan (Vaprisol); antidepressants such as nefazodone; digoxin (Lanoxin), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), nicardipine (Cardene), quinidine (Quin-G), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan) and other heart or blood pressure medications; atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla), indinavir (Crixivan), and other HIV/AIDS medicines; other "statin" medications such as amlodipine, atorvastatin (Caduet), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) or simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin).

If you have missed your dose of Generic Lipitor, make sure to take it as soon as possible. However, two doses should never be taken at the same time, so if the time for the next dose has almost come, DO NOT take the dose you have missed.

Generic Lipitor should be stored at temperatures between 56°F and 86°F (13°C and 30°C) away from moisture and light, and out of reach of children and pets.