Atorvastatin Dosage: An Introduction
Atorvastatin calcium (
Lipitor®) 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 dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Atorvastatin Dosing for People With High Cholesterol
Dosing guidelines for treating
high cholesterol generally call for starting with a dose of atorvastatin ranging from 10 to 20 mg once a day; however, some people may start with 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 dosage. He or she may decrease the dose if you experience
side effects of atorvastatin. On average, dosing for people taking atorvastatin to
lower cholesterol ranges from 20 mg to 40 mg once a day.
In some situations, your healthcare provider may recommend that you take your dose of atorvastatin every other day instead of every day. This is usually used as a cost-saving strategy. Although the drug is not approved to be used in this manner, studies have shown that taking it every other day is effective for
lowering cholesterol. This works because atorvastatin is a long-acting medication.
