Having too much cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of heart attacks and
fever hives, itching, skin rash muscle cramps, pain, stiffness, swelling, or weakness puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or
The risk of muscle injury increases when certain
dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes ( jaundice ), little or no urinating, swelling in your feet or ankles, and
The risk of certain side effects from atorvastatin, such as muscle pain, can be increased if you have thyroid problems
Downsides If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to
Common (1% to 10%): Pain in extremity, musculoskeletal pain, muscle spasms, myalgia, joint swelling, back pain, creatine phosphokinase increased
The concern is that patients who take the drug for these reasons may experience severe side effects
Rarely, statins can cause more-serious side effects such as: Increased blood
belching or excessive gas
Atorvastatin is the generic name for a widely prescribed statin medication, originally prescribed under the brand name Lipitor
This medicine may help prevent medical problems (eg, chest pain, heart attack, or stroke) that are caused by fats clogging the blood vessels
Adults and teens can take statins
The chart below lists examples of mild side effects that have been reported in separate studies of these drugs
While the cognitive side effects introduced in the warning can be reduced by stopping the medication, increased blood sugar levels can potentially lead to type 2 diabetes in patients
This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early and rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis
sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention
Read more about the side effects of statins
In a study published in The Lancet in February 2010, researchers found that side effects of statins, which include Lipitor and other drugs, may increase the risk of being diagnosed with type 2 Lipophilic statins, such as atorvastatin ( Lipitor) or simvastatin ( Zocor ), more easily penetrate cells, potentially making them more likely to cause side effects
Weakness
May be taken at any time of the day (morning or night); however, it is best to be consistent with the time you take Lipitor
Lipitor is a cholesterol-lowering drug that contains the active ingredient All medicines can have side effects
, drowsiness, nausea, dry mouth) to severe (e