How LIPITOR Works to Treat High Cholesterol
Before taking any medicine, it's good to know how it works. LIPITOR is a statin. Statins lower cholesterol in your body. They block an enzyme in the liver. Your body uses this enzyme to make cholesterol. When less cholesterol is made, the liver uses more of it from the blood. This results in lower levels of cholesterol in your blood.
Along with diet and exercise, LIPITOR is clinically proven to lower bad cholesterol levels 39%-60% (average effect depending on dose).
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LIPITOR is a prescription medicine that is used along with a low-fat diet. It lowers the LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and triglycerides in your blood. It can raise your HDL ("good" cholesterol) as well. LIPITOR can lower the risk for heart attack, stroke, certain types of heart surgery, and chest pain in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease such as age, smoking, high blood pressure, low HDL, or family history of early heart disease.
LIPITOR can lower the risk for heart attack or stroke in patients with diabetes and risk factors such as diabetic eye or kidney problems, smoking, or high blood pressure.
LIPITOR is not for everyone. It is not for those with liver problems. And it is not for women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant.
If you take LIPITOR, tell your doctor if you feel any new muscle pain or weakness. This could be a sign of rare but serious muscle side effects. Tell your doctor about all medications you take. This may help avoid serious drug interactions. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver function before and during treatment and may adjust your dose.
Common side effects are diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and changes in some blood tests.
When diet and exercise alone are not enough, adding LIPITOR can help lower cholesterol. LIPITOR is one of many cholesterol-lowering treatment options that you and your doctor can consider.
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