How long does it take to work? Your cholesterol levels should drop within 4 weeks, if you take your medicine regularly, as prescribed.
How do I know if my statin is working? You'll need a blood test to check that your blood cholesterol level has come down. After starting a statin, it takes about six weeks for cholesterol levels to stabilise, so most doctors would re-check your cholesterol after about eight weeks.
Atorvastatin has a rapid onset of action; approximately 90% of the LDL cholesterol reduction from baseline occurred within the first 2 weeks of treatment (Figure). Increasing doses of atorvastatin produced progressive increases in efficacy.
You can choose to take it at any time, as long as you stick to the same time every day. This prevents your blood levels from becoming too high or too low. Sometimes doctors may recommend taking it in the evening. This is because your body makes most cholesterol at night.
Atorvastatin is rapidly absorbed after oral administration with a peak plasma concentration at 1 to 2 hours.
How long does it take to work? Your cholesterol levels should drop within 4 weeks, if you take your medicine regularly, as prescribed.
It takes about 77 hours (3 days) for atorvastatin to be out of your system. The elimination half life of atorvastatin is approximately 14 hours.
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.
This is because the enzyme which makes the cholesterol is more active at night. Also, the half-life, or the amount of time it takes for half the dose to leave your body, of some statins is short.
Some medicines can affect the way atorvastatin works and can increase the chances of you having serious side effects, such as muscle damage. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines: antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, rifampicin or fusidic acid.
As a general guide, total cholesterol levels should be: 5mmol/L or less for healthy adults. 4mmol/L or less for those at high risk.
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.
Serious side effects
you get a skin rash with pink or red blotches, especially on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet – this could be a sign of erythema multiforme. you have severe stomach pain – this can be a sign of acute pancreatitis.
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.
Does atorvastatin cause weight gain? Atorvastatin does not cause weight gain as a side effect. However, some researchers have noted a link between statin medications and weight gain. While there are many potential reasons for this, one belief is that this association is due to moral hazard.
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.
Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the aorta suggested that statin use might result in atherosclerotic plaque regression as early as 6 months after initiation of therapy [2].
Reports of increased daytime urination were similarly higher. The odds of a statin-user reporting nocturia appeared to be greatest among those taking lovastatin (Mevacor), followed by rosuvastatin (Crestor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and lastly, atorvastatin (Lipitor).
People taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs should limit their intake of high-potassium foods like bananas, oranges, avocados, tomatoes, white and sweet potatoes and dried fruits —, especially apricots.
Most cholesterol is created at night, when the body is closer to a fasting state. Because atorvastatin is prescribed to block the production of excess cholesterol, it's often recommended to be taken at night - though it will generally work if you take it during the day, too.
Statins: Don't eat grapefruit
Grapefruit and other citrus fruits can interfere with how your body metabolizes these medications.
Statin Warning Signs
Examples of symptoms that might prompt you to see a doctor include: Excessive thirst or having to urinate frequently.
Although taking the two together has no direct risks, both statins and alcohol can impair liver function and cause tissue damage. Mixing alcohol and statins can, therefore, increase the burden on the liver, potentially raising the risk of liver damage or disease.
Conclusion: Statins lower blood pressure by cholesterol-independent mechanisms, and the reduction is larger in individuals with higher blood pressure and those with low HDL-C. Statins may be beneficial in preventing hypertension and may contribute to better blood pressure control in hypertensive patients.