stomach problems 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 stomach problems lipitor.
• Alcohol and Lipitor can both damage your liver stomach problems 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 stomach problems lipitor.
• Do not take Lipitor if you are pregnant, if you are planning a pregnancy,or if you are breast-feeding a baby stomach problems 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 stomach problems lipitor.

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

Who should not take Lipitor?
• Do not take Lipitor without first talking to your doctor if you haveliver disease stomach problems 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 stomach problems 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 stomach problems lipitor.
• Lipitor is in the FDA pregnancy category X stomach problems lipitor. This means that Lipitor willcause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy stomach problems lipitor. Cholesterol is very importantfor the proper development of a baby stomach problems lipitor. Do not take Lipitor if you are pregnantor are planning a pregnancy stomach problems lipitor.
• It is not known whether Lipitor passes into breast milk stomach problems lipitor. Do not takethis medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby stomach problems lipitor.

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

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

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

What should I avoid while taking Lipitor?
• Alcohol and Lipitor can both damage your liver stomach problems 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 stomach problems lipitor.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Lipitor stomach problems lipitor. The interactioncould lead to potentially dangerous effects stomach problems lipitor. Discuss the use of grapefruit andgrapefruit juice with your doctor stomach problems lipitor. Do not increase or decrease the amount ofgrapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor stomach problems 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 stomach problems lipitor.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur stomach problems lipitor. Continueto take Lipitor and talk to your doctor if you experience
· headache;
· upset stomach or flatulence; or
· a rash stomach problems lipitor.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur stomach problems lipitor. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome stomach problems 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) stomach problems lipitor.
• The medications listed above interact with Lipitor and may cause damageyour muscles stomach problems 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) stomach problems lipitor.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatmentif you are taking any of the medicines listed above stomach problems lipitor.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Lipitor stomach problems lipitor. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines stomach problems lipitor.

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

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