Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Atorvastatin

Atorvastatin (INN) (IPA: ) is a member of the drug class known as statins, used for lowering cholesterol and thereby preventing cardiovascular disease. Atorvastatin inhibits a rate-determining enzyme located in hepatic tissue used in cholesterol synthesis, which lowers the amount of cholesterol produced. This also has the effect of lowering the total amount of LDL cholesterol. more...

Home

Abelcet

Abilify

Abreva

Accure

Acetylcholine chloride

Acilac

Aciphex

Acitretin

Actifed

Actigall

Actiq

Actisite

Actonel

Actos

Acular

Adalat

Advicor

Advil

Aerobid

Aerolate

Afrinol

Aggrenox

Agomelatine

Agrylin

Airomir

Alanine

Alavert

Albendazole

Alcaine

Alclometasone

Aldomet

Aldosterone

Alesse

Aleve

Alfenta

Alfentanil

Alfuzosin

Alimta

Alkeran

Allegra

Alora

Alpidem

Altace

Amaryl

Ambien

Amicar

Amitraz

Amoxil

Anaprox

Ancef

Android

Anexsia

Apidra

Aranesp

Arava

Arestin

Aricept

Arixtra

Artane

Asacol

Asmalix

Aspirin

Atacand

Atarax

Ativan

Atridox

Avandia

Avapro

Avinza

Avizafone

Avobenzone

Avodart

Axid

Axotal

Unlike most statins, atorvastatin is a completely synthetic compound.

Atorvastatin is currently marketed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer as Lipitor®. In some countries it may also be known as: Sortis®, Torvast®, Totalip®, or Xarator®. With 2004 sales of US$10.9 billion, it is the best selling drug in the world.

Clinical use

Indications

Atorvastatin is indicated as an adjunct to diet for the treatment of dyslipidaemia, specifically hypercholesterolaemia. It has also been used in the treatment of mixed hyperlipidaemia. (Rossi, 2006)

Available forms

Atorvastatin is marketed as atorvastatin calcium under the trade name Lipitor, in tablets (10, 20, 40 or 80 mg) for oral administration. Tablets are white, elliptical, and film coated.

Adverse effects

Common adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with atorvastatin therapy include: myalgia, mild transient gastrointestinal symptoms, elevated hepatic transaminase concentrations, headache, insomnia, and/or dizziness. (Rossi, 2006)

Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis are rare, but serious, dose-related ADRs associated with statin therapy. Risk is increased in patients with renal impairment, serious concurrent illness; and/or concomitant use of drugs which inhibit CYP3A4. (Rossi, 2006)

Mechanism of action

Atorvastatin is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the reduction of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A to mevalonate, which is the rate limiting step in hepatic cholesterol synthesis.

Because cholesterol synthesis decreases, hepatic cells increase the number of LDL receptors on the surface of the cells, which increase the amount of LDL uptake by the hepatic cells, and decreases the amount of LDL in the blood.

Read more at Wikipedia.org

• [List your site here Free!]

Atorvastatin delays cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes
From American Family Physician, 1/15/05 by Henry Barry

Clinical Question: Is atorvastatin effective in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults with diabetes mellitus?

Setting: Outpatient (any)

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial (double-blinded)

Allocation: Concealed

Synopsis: Researchers enrolled 2,838 men and women 40 to 75 years of age with type 2 diabetes mellitus of at least six months' duration who also had hypertension, retinopathy, microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria, or current tobacco use. Patients were assigned randomly (concealed allocation) to receive atorvastatin in a dosage of 10 mg daily (n = 1,428) or placebo (n = 1,410), regardless of lipid levels. The main outcome, determined by intention to treat, was a composite of first acute coronary event, coronary revascularization, or stroke. The study ended two years early because the predetermined threshold for the primary outcome was reached. By the time the study was terminated, patients had been evaluated for approximately 3.9 years.

During the study, 5.8 percent of patients taking atorvastatin experienced the composite end point compared with 9 percent of those taking placebo (number needed to treat = 32 for 3.9 years; 95 percent confidence interval, 20 to 79). However, no significant differences were noted in the individual outcomes of all-cause mortality or in the need for coronary revascularization. The authors state that there is no justification for using a threshold level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to determine which patients with type 2 diabetes should receive statins. This statement seems to be premature. Using their data, only 3 percent of patients would benefit after 3.9 years. Individual risk assessment and tailored intervention make more sense.

Bottom Line: In high-risk patients with diabetes, atorvastatin delays the development of acute coronary events but does not significantly decrease the rate of revascularization or all-cause mortality. (Level of Evidence: 1b)

Study Reference: Colhoun HM, et al. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with atorvastatin in type 2 diabetes in the Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study (CARDS): multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet August 21, 2004;364:685-96.

Used with permission from Barry H. Atorvastatin delays first MI in patients with DM (CARDS). Accessed online November 1, 2004, at: http://www.InfoPOEMs.com.

Return to Atorvastatin

Home

Contact

Resources

Exchange Links

ebay