The most common side effects are headaches, feeling sick (nausea), diarrhoea and cold-like symptoms. Do not take atorvastatin if you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding. Keep taking atorvastatin even if you feel well, as you will still be getting the benefits.
Will atorvastatin side effects go away? If you can tolerate the discomfort, it’s a good idea to keep taking the statin as prescribed for at least 2 to 3 weeks. The side effect may go away after your body gets used to the medication.
Consequently, Why you should not take atorvastatin? Statins such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) can cause digestive problems, blood sugar problems, muscle aches and stiffness, muscle injury, kidney damage, or liver damage. Some people need to stop taking this medicine if these problems occur.
What are serious side effects of atorvastatin?
Contact your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Lipitor including:
- muscle wasting and muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis),
- confusion or memory problems,
- fever,
- dark urine,
- increased thirst or hunger,
- drowsiness,
- loss of appetite, or.
- yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).
What is the most common side effect of statins?
Muscle pain and damage
One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain. You may feel this pain as a soreness, tiredness or weakness in your muscles. The pain can be a mild discomfort, or it can be severe enough to make your daily activities difficult.
Likewise, Can you stop taking statins Once you start? Therefore, most people who begin taking a statin medication will likely take it for the rest of their lives. If you’ve been taking statins and would like to stop, you’ll need to do so with your doctor’s guidance. This is because it can be dangerous to stop taking statins.
What should I avoid when taking atorvastatin?
Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol, or atorvastatin will not be as effective. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage. Grapefruit may interact with atorvastatin and lead to unwanted side effects.
Is 40 mg of atorvastatin too much? Conclusions: Atorvastatin in daily dose of 40 mg is a safe and well tolerable medication for the treatment for dyslipidemic disorders in patients of different clinic profile and cardiovascular risk groups in common medical practice.
What is the best cholesterol medication with the least side effects?
In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.
Why are doctors pushing statins? Statins are among the most prescribed medications because they have a mountain of evidence that they lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death in those at high risk for heart disease.
Is there a natural substitute for statins? For patients who can’t tolerate cholesterol-lowering statins, natural remedies like bergamot, garlic and green tea may be a useful alternative, based on a recent statement published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Is 20 mg of atorvastatin a lot?
Adults—At first, 10 or 20 milligrams (mg) once a day. Some patients may need to start at 40 mg per day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 80 mg per day.
What vitamins should not be taken with statins?
For example, there is some evidence that taking supplements of coenzyme Q10 may reduce the muscle soreness that statins sometimes cause. However, taking niacin (vitamin B3) supplements along with a statin medication may worsen muscle soreness.
Can you drink coffee while taking atorvastatin? Background: Adenosine receptor activation is essential for mediating the IS-limiting effects of statins. Caffeine is a nonspecific adenosine receptor blocker, and thus drinking CC may block the myocardial protective effects of statins.
Can I take atorvastatin every other day?
Conclusions: In hypercholesterolemia patients, atorvastatin 10 mg every other day is safe and effective in lowering TC, TG, with LDL-c and a slight increase in HDL-c.
Can atorvastatin make you tired? In a study of more than 1,000 adults, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found that individuals taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are more likely than non-users to experience decreased energy, fatigue upon exertion, or both.
What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?
What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?
- Nausea.
- Numbness.
- Slurred speech.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Chest pain or angina.
- Shortness of breath.
- Numbness or coldness in extremities.
- High blood pressure.
What can you take instead of statins? 7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins
- Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. …
- Plant stanols and sterols. …
- Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. …
- Niacin. …
- Policosanol. …
- Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) …
- Natural products.
Are statins worth the risk?
Research has shown that statins are highly effective in reducing the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke. But some people are reluctant to take these life-saving drugs. They worry about taking medicine every day for the rest of their life or have heard that statins have undesirable side effects.
What happens when you stop taking statins cold turkey? Stopping your statin has been linked to increased risk for cardiovascular events (like heart attack) and death in patients with coronary artery disease. In a recent 8-year study, more than half of patients stopped their statin believing they were experiencing a side effect.
What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?
Drinks to Help Lower Cholesterol
- Green tea. Drinking green tea can help reduce both your total cholesterol and LDL levels. …
- Oat-based drinks. Oats contain high levels of soluble fiber, which may help lower your cholesterol. …
- Fibrous smoothies. …
- Soy milk. …
- Red wine. …
- Cherry juice. …
- Ginger tea. …
- Other drinks to try.
What can I take instead of a statin? 7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins
- Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. …
- Plant stanols and sterols. …
- Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. …
- Niacin. …
- Policosanol. …
- Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) …
- Natural products.
What to do if you don’t want to take statins?
Doctors often prescribe a fibrate for patients who can’t take a statin. Like the statins, fibrates reduce the body’s cholesterol production, but they are less effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels. In other areas, though, fibrates actually have the edge.
How can I lower my cholesterol without taking statins? Tips for reducing your cholesterol
- Avoid trans and saturated fats.
- Eat lots of soluble fiber. Upping your daily intake of soluble fiber can decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. …
- Exercise. …
- Cut down on your alcohol intake. …
- Try fish oil supplements. …
- Take a garlic supplement.
How long does it take for atorvastatin to lower cholesterol?
1 Lipitor starts to lower cholesterol within about two weeks of starting the medication. Lipitor should always be taken in conjunction with a diet to lower your cholesterol and triglycerides.
Is it OK to take vitamin D with atorvastatin? Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between atorvastatin and Vitamin D3. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Is it OK to take vitamin D with statins?
Vitamin D supplement may have moderate or no effect on the dosage requirement or side effects of pravastatin, rosuvastatin and pitavastatin. Since vitamin D has mild HMG-CoA reductase activity, it will work synergistically with all statins.
Can vitamin D increase cholesterol?
Vitamin D deficiency linked to an increased risk for dyslipidemia. Higher vitamin D levels appear to be associated with higher total cholesterol levels and higher HDL cholesterol levels, according to a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) 65th Annual Scientific Sessions.
