Atorvastatin Tablets (10mg, 20mg, 40mg, 80mg)

Your doctor will put you on a low-cholesterol diet before you begin therapy, which you ought to keep up even while taking atorvastatin.

Atorvastatin's recommended starting dose for adults is 10 mg once daily. Your doctor may increase this if required until you are taking the right dosage. The dosage will be adjusted by your doctor at intervals of four weeks or longer.

Atorvastatin should not be taken in excess of 80 mg once daily.

The atorvastatin tablet can be taken at any time of the day, with or without meals, and should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Try to take your pill at the same time each day, though.

Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions when taking this medication. If you're unsure, ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice. Your doctor will decide how long you will take atorvastatin for therapy.

If you believe that the impact of atorvastatin is either too strong or too weak and if you consume more Atorvastatin than is recommended, consult your doctor immediately.

You should not take Atorvastatin if you have, or have ever had a disease which affects the liver, if you have had any unexplained abnormal blood tests for liver function, if you are a woman able to have children and not using reliable contraception, if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. You must speak to your doctor before taking Atorvastatin, because it may be unsuitable for you if:

• You have ever had a stroke with bleeding into the brain or have small pockets of fluid in the brain from previous strokes.
• You have kidney problems
• You have an under-active thyroid gland
• You regularly drink large amounts of alcohol
• You are older than 70 years old
• You have had repeated or unexplained muscle aches or pains, a personal history or family history of muscle problems
• You have had previous muscle problems during treatment with other lipid-lowering medicines
• You have a history of liver disease
• You have severe respiratory failure

If you take any of the medicines, you must speak to your doctor before taking Atorvastatin, particularly the following:

• Medicines used to alter the way your immune system works
• Certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines
• Other medicines to regulate lipid levels
• Some calcium channel blockers used for angina or high blood pressure
• Medicines used to treat HIV