Atorvastatin is the #1 most commonly prescribed medication in the U.S. Here are some things you may be surprised to learn about Atorvastatin:
Generic Name: Atorvastatin Calcium
Brand Name(s): Lipitor, Atorvaliq
Pronunciation: a TOR va sta tin
About this drug:
Atorvastatin is a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) used to lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increase HDL cholesterol.
It also decreases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other heart issues in patients with coronary heart disease, diabetes type 2 or other risk factors.
Dentistry-related tidbits:
Atorvastatin may cause thrombocytopenia.
Atorvastatin can have serious drug interactions with commonly prescribed NSAIDs, antibiotics, benzodiazepines, narcotics, and more, so make sure to check for potential interactions before prescribing using a tool like Rx Check.
Side effects include headache, muscle weakness, pharyngolaryngeal pain, stuffy nose, and sore throat.
Atorvastatin can also have rare, but serious adverse effects that dentists should be aware of, such as renal and liver problems, rhabdomyolysis, and hyperglycemia.
Fun facts:
Atorvastatin was the #1 prescribed drug in the U.S. in 2020, with over 114.5 million prescriptions written.
A moderate-intensity (lowers LDL by 30% to 49%) Atorvastatin dose is considered to be 10-20 mg daily. A high-intensity (lowers LDL by 50% or more) is considered to be 40-80 mg daily.
In February 2023, the FDA approved CMP Pharma’s Atorvaliq, which is the first oral suspension formulation of Atorvastatin.
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