Lipitor Side Effects

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By Peggy Deland
eHow Contributing Writer

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Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a statin drug prescribed to treat high cholesterol and triglycerides. It is also sometimes prescribed to prevent heart problems in people who have a high risk of developing heart disease, regardless of their cholesterol level. Most people who take statin drugs, including Lipitor, do not experience noticeable side effects, although adverse reactions occasionally occur.

Function

Lipitor works by blocking the production of an enzyme the body uses to produce cholesterol in the liver. As a result, most side effects associated with Lipitor are related to changes in liver function and reduced production of cholesterol. Lipitor, like all statins, should not be taken during pregnancy because of the risk of fetal harm; a developing fetus requires cholesterol, and if sufficient cholesterol is not produced by the mother's body, serious birth defects can result.

Effects

The most common side effects associated with Lipitor are abnormal liver function, muscle pain, weakness, headache, pain in the side or back, difficulty urinating and hoarseness. Side effects associated with Lipitor and other statins, with the exception of abnormal liver test results, tend to become less severe as the body adjusts to the drug. Because of the risk of damage to the liver when taking Lipitor, regular monitoring of liver function is required.

Significance

Most muscle pain and weakness associated with the use of Lipitor is harmless, although it can be uncomfortable. Very rarely, statins may cause the muscles to break down rapidly. When this occurs, damaged cells from the muscles can enter the bloodstream and become trapped in the kidney. This can cause life-threatening kidney problems. Although the risk of this problem, called rhabdomyolysis, has received a great deal of publicity, the chance of it occurring in a person who takes a statin drug is very low. Approximately 1 in 15 million patients who take statins will experience rhabdomyolysis.

Considerations

Lipitor is very effective in lowering cholesterol levels, but it is not appropriate for everyone who has high cholesterol. Whenever possible, attempts should be made to lower cholesterol through diet and exercise. Lipitor should be used with caution in patients who have pre-existing liver or kidney problems, who must take drugs that are known to interact with Lipitor, and those who have a history of alcohol abuse or who drink heavily.

Prevention/Solution

Most people who experience bothersome side effects from Lipitor find that they are most pronounced a few hours after taking the medication. For this reason, most doctors recommend that Lipitor be taken at night, immediately before going to sleep. Side effects, especially muscle aches and pain, are unlikely to be severe enough to cause a person to wake up.