Atorvastatin Dosing

When using the medication to treat high cholesterol, atorvastatin dosing guidelines generally call for a starting dosage of 10 mg or 20 mg a day. The average atorvastatin dosage for people with high cholesterol ranges from 20 mg to 40 mg a day. In the case of children taking atorvastatin, dosing guidelines recommend starting with a daily dose of 10 mg.

 

Atorvastatin Dosing: An Introduction

Atorvastatin calcium ("atorvastatin") is a prescription medication sold under the brand name Lipitor®. The dose of atorvastatin your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • The medical condition for which you are being treated
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your atorvastatin dose unless specifically instructed by your healthcare provider to do so.
 

Atorvastatin Dosing for People With High Cholesterol

Atorvastatin dosing guidelines for treating
 high cholesterol generally call for starting with a dose from 10 to 20 mg once a day; however, some people may start on atorvastatin 40 mg if they require a large drop in their cholesterol numbers.
 
After several weeks, your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you have your cholesterol levels checked once again. If you have not reached your cholesterol goal at this time, your healthcare provider may choose to increase your atorvastatin dosage. He or she may decrease the dose if you experience side effects of atorvastatin. On average, atorvastatin dosing for people taking the drug to lower cholesterol ranges from atorvastatin 20 mg to atorvastatin 40 mg once a day.
 
(Atorvastatin Dosing Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;