Atorvastatin is a statin drug that decreases the production
of cholesterol in the liver and helps eliminate excess cholesterol from the
blood vessels. It is an effective statin therapy when it comes to lowering
cholesterol levels in the blood.
What are the uses of Atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin is used for the treatment of elevated total
cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides in the blood. LDL
is believed to be the bad cholesterol that is responsible for the development
of coronary artery disease (CAD). Reducing the levels of LDL in the blood leads
to progression and may even reverse CAD. Atorvastatin is also known to raise
the concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), that protects against the
CAD and helps to reduce triglycerides levels, another type of fat in the blood.
High levels of triglycerides have also been associated with CAD. Atorvastatin
is effective at reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and angina in adults
with a high of hypertension and CAD.
What are the side effects of Atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin is considered beneficial in lowering cholesterol
and protecting against heart attack and stroke, although it may lead to side
effects in some people. Health care specialist prescribes this statin therapy
to people with high blood cholesterol. The medicine lowers their total
cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke. Even when
Atorvastatin is considered safe and effective for most people, it has been
linked to digestive problems, and muscle pain in some people who it regularly
to lower their blood cholesterol.
Having too much cholesterol in your blood increases the risk
of severe heart problems like heart attack and stroke. Atorvastatin works by
blocking a certain substance that is required by your liver to make
cholesterol. This results in the elimination of cholesterol from the
bloodstream. If you begin to experience some unwanted effects associated with
the use of statin therapy, don’t just discontinue the treatment. Talk to your
health care specialist to see if dose adjustments can make a difference and
improve your side effects.
Below is the list of Statin Side Effects:
1. Muscle Pain and Damage
One of the most commonly reported side effects of
Atorvastatin tablet is muscle pain. You may feel soreness, tiredness, or weakness in
your muscles. Muscle pain can range from mild to severe enough that can
interfere with your daily activities. Very rarely, this cholesterol-lowering the drug may lead to life-threatening muscle damage. The condition is often called
rhabdomyolysis and can cause severe muscle pain, kidney failure, liver damage,
and death. The risk of severe side effects is extremely low and reported in a
very few people who took this statin drugs, studies suggest.
2. Liver Damage
Occasionally Atorvastatin could cause increased levels of
certain enzymes that could lead to liver inflammation. If the elevation, you
can continue the treatment. Rarely the level is severely high and, in such
cases, different statin can do the trick. Although liver problems are rare,
your health care specialist may prescribe a liver enzyme test after you begin
taking your cholesterol-lowering drug. Contact your health care specialist if
you develop any unusual symptoms such as coloured urine, pain in your upper
abdomen, loss of appetite, fatigue, or yellowing of the skin.
3. Increased Blood Sugar
There are possibilities of getting high blood sugar levels
while taking a statin drug, which may lead to type 2 diabetes. The risk of
developing type 2 diabetes is more in people who already have high blood sugar
levels than normal when they begin taking a statin. Talk to your health care
specialist if you have concerns.
4. Neurological Side Effects
In clinical studies, some people have developed memory loss
or confusing during the treatment. However, the side effects can be reversed
after stopping the medicine. It is wise to talk to a health care specialist if
you experience memory loss or confusion while taking the medication.
Who is at great risk of developing Atorvastatin side effects?
Not everyone who is on statin therapy will have side effects,
but some people are at high risk than others. Risk factors for the side effects
include:
1.
Being
an elderly candidate for statin therapy say age 80 or older
2.
Being
a female
3.
Excessive
alcohol consumption
4.
having
kidney or liver disease
5.
taking
multiple medications to gain control over blood cholesterol
6.
having
health issues such as neuromuscular disorders, hypothyroidism.
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