Atorvastatin Calcium

If you have high cholesterol, you may benefit from a drug called atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor^®). This statin drug can also be used to treat high triglycerides and prevent cardiovascular disease. By blocking the enzyme that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body, atorvastatin can increase "good cholesterol" and decrease "bad cholesterol," total cholesterol, and triglycerides.

 

The medication is generally taken once a day. It comes in tablet form and is available in four different strengths. People taking atorvastatin should not eat grapefruit, drink grapefruit juice, or take supplements containing grapefruit. Doing so can increase the levels of medication in the blood, which can increase the risk of developing muscle problems.