Atorvastatin

Question 1

What is Atorvastatin’s brand name?

Answer 1

Lipitor

Question 2

What is Atorvastatin’s therapeutic category?

Answer 2

Antihyperlipidemic, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor

Question 3

What are Atorvastatin’s indications?

Answer 3

Hyperlipidemia
Prevention of coronary heart disease
Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

Question 4

What is Atorvastatin’s usual adult dose?

Answer 4

10-80mg once daily
MAX: 80mg/day
Children MAX: 20mg/day

Question 5

What are Atorvastatin’s side effects?

Answer 5

GI (abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, diarrhea),

arthralgia, nasopharyngitis

Question 6

What are Atorvastatin’s monitoring parameters?

Answer 6

Lipid panel (after 2-4 weeks)
Baseline CPK
Liver function tests

Question 7

What are Atorvastatin’s available dosage forms?

Answer 7

Oral tablet: 10mg, 20mg, 40mg, 80mg

Question 8

What are Atorvastatin’s warnings?

Answer 8

Pregnancy category: X

Question 9

What are Atorvastatin’s patient counseling points?

Answer 9

Avoid excessive alcohol intake
Avoid concurrent use of grapefruit juice (>1qt/day)
Caution: using red yeast rice
Take with or without food and may take any time of day due to longer half life and more potent LDL
Report unexplainable muscle pain
Follow stand cholesterol lowering diet