Lipitor

Lipitor is used for:

Lowering high cholesterol and triglycerides in certain patients. It also increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL, "good") cholesterol levels. It is used along with an appropriate diet. It is used in certain patients to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, chest pain caused by angina, or blood vessel blockage. It is also used in certain patients to reduce the risk of hospitalization for congestive heart failure, or the need for medical procedures to open blocked heart blood vessels. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Lipitor is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, also known as a "statin." It works by reducing the production of certain fatty substances in the body, including cholesterol.

Do NOT use Lipitor if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Lipitor
• you have liver problems or unexplained abnormal liver function tests
• you are pregnant or breast-feeding
• you are taking an HIV protease inhibitor (eg, ritonavir), itraconazole, or mibefradil

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Lipitor :

Some medical conditions may interact with Lipitor . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have low blood pressure, a serious infection, or a history of seizures
• if you have metabolism, hormonal, or electrolyte problems
• if you drink alcohol or have a history of liver problems or alcohol abuse
• if you have recently had major surgery, a serious injury, or a stroke

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Lipitor . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Amiodarone, azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), colchicine, diltiazem, fibrates (eg, clofibrate, gemfibrozil), fluconazole, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), imatinib, immunosuppressants (eg, cyclosporine), macrolides (eg, erythromycin), mibefradil, nefazodone, niacin, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (eg, delavirdine), streptogramins (eg, dalfopristin), telithromycin, vasopressin receptor antagonists (eg, conivaptan), verapamil, or voriconazole because they may increase the risk of muscle or kidney problems
• Bosentan, carbamazepine, efavirenz, rifampin, or St. John's wort because they may decrease Lipitor 's effectiveness
• Digoxin, hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills), macrolide immunosuppressants (eg, tacrolimus), or spironolactone because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Lipitor

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Lipitor may interact with other medicin es that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.