About Atorvastatin 40 mg Tablet
Atorvastatin 40 mg Tablet contains Atorvastatin 40 mg. Atorvastatin is a statin, a medicine that lowers cholesterol. It reduces 'bad' LDL cholesterol and fats called triglycerides in the blood. It is used together with a healthy diet to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with high cholesterol or heart disease, or who are at high risk.
Uses of Atorvastatin 40 mg Tablet
- High cholesterol, along with diet
- Lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke in people at high risk
- Mixed high cholesterol and triglycerides
Benefits
In high cholesterol
It lowers bad cholesterol, which helps slow the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries. Over time this reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. You will not feel different, so keep taking it as prescribed.
Side effects
Most people have few side effects. Your doctor may check your liver tests and blood sugar during treatment.
Common
- Muscle aches
- Joint pain
- Headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Cold-like symptoms such as a sore throat
Get medical help if you notice
- Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially with fever or dark urine — stop taking it and contact your doctor straight away
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine or severe tiredness (possible liver problem) — contact your doctor
- Allergic reaction or severe skin rash — seek emergency care
How to use
Take it exactly as your doctor prescribed, once a day at any time, but try to take it at the same time each day. Swallow the tablet with water, with or without food.
How it works
It blocks HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme the liver uses to make cholesterol. The liver then takes more LDL cholesterol out of the blood.
Safety advice
Alcohol Caution
Heavy drinking can harm the liver while you take a statin. Keep alcohol to a minimum.
Pregnancy Unsafe
It must not be used in pregnancy. Stop and tell your doctor if you become pregnant, and use reliable contraception if you could become pregnant.
Breastfeeding Unsafe
It must not be used while breastfeeding.
Driving Safe
It is not expected to affect your ability to drive.
Kidney Caution
No dose change is usually needed, but tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, as muscle side effects may be more likely.
Liver Unsafe
It must not be used in active liver disease or if liver tests are persistently raised. Your doctor may check your liver tests.
If you miss a dose
If you miss a dose, take it when you remember the same day. If it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
Quick tips
- Keep taking it even if you feel well; high cholesterol has no symptoms.
- Avoid drinking large amounts of grapefruit juice.
- Report unexplained muscle pain or weakness to your doctor.
- Follow a healthy diet and stay active alongside the medicine.
- Tell any doctor who prescribes you a new medicine that you take a statin.
Substitutes
Same salts in the same strength from other makers. Only switch brands on your doctor's or pharmacist's advice; our pharmacist checks every order against the prescription.
No other brands of this exact strength in our list yet — ask our pharmacist.
Same salts, other strengths or forms
Fact box
- Chemical class
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (synthetic)
- Therapeutic class
- Cardiovascular / lipid-lowering
- Action class
- Statin
- Habit forming
- No
- Prescription
- Required
Interactions with other medicines
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.
| Medicine | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Clarithromycin, itraconazole and some HIV medicines | Raise atorvastatin levels and the risk of muscle damage |
| Ciclosporin | Greatly raises atorvastatin levels; usually avoided or a low dose used |
| Gemfibrozil and other fibrates | Increase the risk of muscle damage |
| Colchicine | May increase the risk of muscle problems |
| Large amounts of grapefruit juice | Can raise atorvastatin levels |
This page is general information to help you understand your medicine. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change a medicine on your own.
Written by the Asthra Health Care team from the approved prescribing information (Atorvastatin prescribing information (CDSCO-approved labelling); Atorvastatin Summary of Product Characteristics (EMC)). Pharmacist review pending.