lpa and lipitor

What is the most important information I should know about Lipitor?
• Do not take Lipitor without first talking to your doctor if you haveliver disease lpa and lipitor.
• Alcohol and Lipitor can both damage your liver lpa and lipitor. Discuss with your doctorthe amount of alcohol that you drink so that it can be determined if Lipitoris the best choice for lowering your cholesterol lpa and lipitor.
• Do not take Lipitor if you are pregnant, if you are planning a pregnancy,or if you are breast-feeding a baby lpa and lipitor.
• Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained musclepain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if it is accompanied by a fever orflulike symptoms or yellowing of your skin or eyes lpa and lipitor.

What is Lipitor?
• Lipitor blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in yourbody lpa and lipitor.
• Lipitor is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, totalcholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a proteinneeded to make cholesterol) in your blood lpa and lipitor. Lipitor is also used to increasethe level of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood lpa and lipitor. These actions are importantin reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks,stroke, and peripheral vascular disease lpa and lipitor.
• Lipitor may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide lpa and lipitor.

Who should not take Lipitor?
• Do not take Lipitor without first talking to your doctor if you haveliver disease lpa and lipitor.
• Before taking Lipitor, tell your doctor if you
· drink alcoholic beverages,
· have a chronic muscular disease,
· require major surgery, or
· have a blood disorder lpa and lipitor.
• You may not be able to take Lipitor, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove lpa and lipitor.
• Lipitor is in the FDA pregnancy category X lpa and lipitor. This means that Lipitor willcause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy lpa and lipitor. Cholesterol is very importantfor the proper development of a baby lpa and lipitor. Do not take Lipitor if you are pregnantor are planning a pregnancy lpa and lipitor.
• It is not known whether Lipitor passes into breast milk lpa and lipitor. Do not takethis medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby lpa and lipitor.

How should I take Lipitor?
• Take Lipitor exactly as directed by your doctor lpa and lipitor. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you lpa and lipitor.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water lpa and lipitor.
• Lipitor can be taken with or without food lpa and lipitor.
• Lipitor is usually taken once a day lpa and lipitor. Try to take your dose at the sametime each day lpa and lipitor. Follow your doctor's instructions lpa and lipitor.
• Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood testsbefore starting treatment with Lipitor, at twelve weeks after both the startof your treatment and any increase in dose, and periodically (every 6 months)thereafter lpa and lipitor. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determinehow much monitoring you will require lpa and lipitor.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Lipitor lpa and lipitor. The interactioncould lead to potentially dangerous effects lpa and lipitor. Discuss the use of grapefruit andgrapefruit juice with your doctor lpa and lipitor. Do not increase or decrease the amount ofgrapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor lpa and lipitor.
• Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet lpa and lipitor. To realize beneficial effects fromLipitor, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods lpa and lipitor.
• Do not stop taking Lipitor without first talking to your doctor lpa and lipitor. It maybe weeks or months before beneficial effects are seen from this medication lpa and lipitor.
• Store Lipitor at room temperature away from moisture and heat lpa and lipitor.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember lpa and lipitor. However, if it is almosttime for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularlyscheduled dose lpa and lipitor. Do not take a double dose of this medication lpa and lipitor.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention lpa and lipitor.
• The symptoms of an overdose of Lipitor are not known lpa and lipitor.

What should I avoid while taking Lipitor?
• Alcohol and Lipitor can both damage your liver lpa and lipitor. Discuss with your doctorthe amount of alcohol that you drink so that it can be determined if Lipitoris the best choice for lowering your cholesterol lpa and lipitor.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Lipitor lpa and lipitor. The interactioncould lead to potentially dangerous effects lpa and lipitor. Discuss the use of grapefruit andgrapefruit juice with your doctor lpa and lipitor. Do not increase or decrease the amount ofgrapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor lpa and lipitor.

What are the possible side effects of Lipitor?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingLipitor and seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· muscle aches, pain, or weakness;
· "flu-like" symptoms;
· decreased urine or rust-colored urine;
· blurred vision; or
· yellowing of your skin or eyes lpa and lipitor.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur lpa and lipitor. Continueto take Lipitor and talk to your doctor if you experience
· headache;
· upset stomach or flatulence; or
· a rash lpa and lipitor.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur lpa and lipitor. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome lpa and lipitor.

What other drugs will affect Lipitor?
• Do not take Lipitor without first talking to your doctor if you are takingany of the following medicines:
· cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
· gemfibrozil (Lopid);
· niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Nicotinex, others);
· clarithromycin (Biaxin);
· erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Ilotycin, Eryc, PCE, Ilosone,others); or
· fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Nizoral) lpa and lipitor.
• The medications listed above interact with Lipitor and may cause damageyour muscles lpa and lipitor.
• Before taking Lipitor, tell your doctor if you are taking any of thefollowing medicines:
· other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as cholestyramine (Questran)or colestipol (Colestid); or
· digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps) lpa and lipitor.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatmentif you are taking any of the medicines listed above lpa and lipitor.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Lipitor lpa and lipitor. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines lpa and lipitor.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Lipitor written forhealth professionals that you may read lpa and lipitor.

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