TORVASTIN 10MG 30 TABLETS

 ATORVASTATIN 10 MG 30 TABLETS
Atorvastatin Tablets
Package leaflet: Information for the patient
Atorvastatin 10 mg Film-coated Tablets
Atorvastatin 20 mg Film-coated Tablets
Atorvastatin 40 mg Film-coated Tablets
Atorvastatin 80 mg Film-coated Tablets
Atorvastatin
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Atorvastatin is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Atorvastatin
3. How to take Atorvastatin
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Atorvastatin
6. Contents of the pack and other information.
1. What Atorvastatin is and what it is used for
Atorvastatin belongs to a group of medicines known as statins, which are lipid (fat) regulating medicines.
Atorvastatin is used to lower lipids known as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood when a low fat diet and life style changes on their own have failed. If you are at an increased risk of heart disease, Atorvastatin can also be used to reduce such risk even if your cholesterol levels are normal. You should maintain a standard cholesterol lowering diet during treatment.
2. What you need to know before you take Atorvastatin
Do not take Atorvastatin:
if you are allergic to Atorvastatin, to any similar medicines used to lower blood lipids or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
if you have or have ever had a disease which affects the liver.
if you have had any unexplained abnormal blood tests for liver function.
if you use the combination of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in the treatment of hepatitis C
if you are a woman able to have children and not using reliable contraception.
if you are pregnant, or trying to become pregnant.
if you are breast-feeding.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atorvastatin
If you are taking or have taken in the last 7 days a medicine called fusidic acid, (a medicine for bacterial infection) orally or by injection. The combination of fusidic acid and Atorvastatin can lead to serious muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis).
The following are reasons why Atorvastatin may not be suitable for you.
if you have had a previous stroke with bleeding into the brain, or have small pockets of fluid in the brain from previous strokes
if you have kidney problems
if you have an under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
if you have had repeated or unexplained muscle aches or pains, a personal history or family history of muscle problems.
if you have had previous muscular problems during treatment with other lipid-lowering medicines (e.g. other ‘-statin’ or ‘-fibrate’ medicines)
if you regularly drink a large amount of alcohol
if you have a history of liver disease
if you are older than 70 years.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atorvastatin
if you have severe respiratory failure.
If any of these apply to you, your doctor will need to carry out a blood test before and possibly during your Atorvastatin treatment to predict your risk of muscle related side effects. The risk of muscle related side effects e.g. rhabdomyolysis is known to increase when certain medicines are taken at the same time (see section 2 “Other medicines and Atorvastatin”).
Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have a muscle weakness that is constant. Additional tests and medicines may be needed to diagnose and treat this.
While you are on this medicine your doctor will monitor you closely if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes. You are likely to be at risk of developing diabetes if you have high levels of sugars and fats in your blood, are overweight and have high blood pressure.
Other medicines and Atorvastatin
There are some medicines that may change the effect of Atorvastatin or their effect may be changed by Atorvastatin. This type of interaction could make one or both of the medicines less effective. Alternatively it could increase the risk or severity of side-effects, including the important muscle wasting condition known as rhabdomyolysis described in section 4 “Possible side effects”:
Medicines used to alter the way your immune system works, e.g. ciclosporin
Certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines, e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, rifampin, fusidic acid
Other medicines to regulate lipid levels, e.g. gemfibrozil, other fibrates, colestipol
Some calcium channel blockers used for angina or high blood pressure, e.g. amlodipine, diltiazem; medicines to regulate your heart rhythm e.g. digoxin, verapamil, amiodarone
Medicines used in the treatment of HIV e.g. ritonavir, lopinavir, atazanavir, indinavir, darunavir, the combination of tipranavir/ritonavir etc.
Some medicines used in the treatment of hepatitis C e.g. telaprevir, boceprevir and the combination of elbasvir/grazoprevir
Other medicines known to interact with Atorvastatin include ezetimibe (which lowers cholesterol), warfarin (which reduces blood clotting), oral contraceptives, stiripentol (an anti-convulsant for epilepsy), cimetidine (used for heartburn and peptic ulcers), phenazone (a painkiller), colchicines (used to treat gout) and antacids (indigestion products containing aluminium or magnesium)
Medicines obtained without a prescription: St John’s Wort
Film-coated tablet.
White to off white, film-coated oval tablets about 6.1 mm wide and about 8.6 mm long, debossed with 'A30' on one side and plain on other side
Generic Lipitor
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is an inexpensive drug that lowers levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Atorvastatin may also reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with risk factors for heart disease. This drug is more popular than comparable drugs.