Atorvastatin lowers cholesterol and, more importantly, lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke. It belongs to the group of medicines called statins.
- Generic name
- Atorvastatin calcium
- Active ingredient
- Atorvastatin calcium
- Common brands in India
- Atorva, Storvas, Lipvas, Tonact, Atocor
- Available as
- Tablet
- Common strengths
- 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg
- How it is sold
- Prescription only — needs a doctor's prescription
No dosage information on this page
The correct dose depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other medicines and medical history. Follow the dose your doctor prescribed, or the instructions on the pack. Never copy a dose from a website or from someone else's prescription.
What Atorvastatin is used for
- Lowering LDL cholesterol, the type that builds up in artery walls
- Reducing the risk of a first heart attack or stroke in people at high risk
- Standard treatment after a heart attack, stent or stroke
- Familial high cholesterol, an inherited condition
How it works
Most of the cholesterol in your blood is made by your liver rather than eaten. Atorvastatin blocks the enzyme the liver uses to make it, so the level falls. It also helps stabilise the fatty deposits already in artery walls, which is part of why it prevents heart attacks rather than simply improving a number.
How to take Atorvastatin
- It can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. Older statins had to be taken at night; atorvastatin does not.
- Take it at the same time each day so it becomes a habit.
- Avoid large amounts of grapefruit juice, which can raise the level of the medicine in your blood.
- Keep taking it even when your cholesterol report comes back normal — the normal report is the medicine working.
Precautions
- Tell your doctor about any muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially if it is unexplained or comes with fever.
- Your doctor may check liver enzymes before starting and occasionally afterwards.
- Tell your doctor about all your other medicines. Statins interact with several, including some antibiotics, antifungals and heart medicines.
- Tell your doctor if you have thyroid disease, kidney disease or drink heavily.
- It is not taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Discuss contraception if this applies to you.
Common side effects
Not everyone gets side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these are troublesome or do not settle.
- Muscle aches or mild muscle pain
- Headache
- Stomach upset, nausea or constipation
- Raised liver enzymes on blood tests, usually without symptoms
- Slightly increased blood sugar, which matters mainly in people already close to diabetes
Important warnings
- Severe unexplained muscle pain or weakness, particularly with dark or cola-coloured urine, needs urgent medical attention. This is rare, but it is the one serious muscle problem statins can cause.
- Do not stop the medicine because your cholesterol has become normal. In people who have had a heart attack or stroke, stopping raises the risk of another one.
- Statins are not a substitute for diet, exercise and stopping smoking — they work alongside those, not instead of them.
- Do not take it if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does atorvastatin have to be taken at night?
No. Older statins worked better at night because they were short-acting, but atorvastatin lasts long enough that the timing does not matter. Take it whenever you will reliably remember.
Does atorvastatin cause muscle pain?
Mild muscle aches are among the more common complaints, though careful studies show many people who report them on a statin also report them on a dummy tablet. Do tell your doctor — there are alternatives and lower amounts. Severe pain with dark urine is different and needs urgent attention.
Can I stop atorvastatin once my cholesterol is normal?
Not on your own. The number is normal because of the medicine, and it climbs back within weeks of stopping. If you have had a heart attack or stroke, the statin is doing more than lowering a number — it is lowering your risk of the next event.
What are the side effects of atorvastatin?
Muscle aches, headache and stomach upset are the common ones. Liver enzymes can rise on blood tests without causing symptoms. Most people take statins for many years without trouble.
What this costs, and what is free
Commonly available free at government hospitals and health and wellness centres when prescribed there.
Generic versions are sold at Jan Aushadhi Kendras at substantially lower prices than branded packs of the same medicine.
The same molecule is sold under many brand names at very different prices. Ask your doctor to write the generic name, and compare at a Jan Aushadhi Kendra — the saving on a medicine taken daily is often substantial over a year. You can look up any medicine's official ceiling price on NPPA's Pharma Sahi Daam app.
Source: Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
Prices and scheme rules change. Confirm current details with the hospital or Kendra before you rely on them.
Looking for Atorvastatin locally?Aswini Medicals is a pharmacy that stocks everyday medicines and can advise on availability.
Visit Aswini Medicals