Lipitor side-effects

Lipitor is a well-tolerated drug and few side effects are usually experienced with it. However, some individuals may experience a few of the common side effects known to the drug. Some of the common side-effects that usually diminishes with regular dosage of the drug are:

Stuffy nose
Disturbances of the gut like constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, flatulence
Headache
Pain in muscles, back or joints
Joint swelling
Muscle spasms
Abnormal results in liver function test
Skin reactions like rash and itch

Serious side-effects

On rare occasions, some side effects may cause patients to discontinue their therapy. Some of these side effects are more serious and require consultation with their doctor if they occur. It is prudent to seek medical intervention immediately in the event that the patient experience any of the serious side-effects. These effects are controlled by either lowering the drug dosage or instructing patients to stop taking the medications. Some of the serious side-effects are:

Muscle problems like inflammation of the muscles
Swelling of ankles and legs
Liver failure
Hearing loss
Decrease in blood cells
Serious skin condition
Depression

Lipitor Drug Interactions

Drug interactions may increase the risk of serious side-effects. Therefore, it is important for the patients to keep doctor informed about all medications including prescription, non-prescription, herbal products taken by them. There are certain drugs which interact with Lipitor and affect its functioning in adverse manner. Some of those drugs are:

Diltiazem
Telaprevir
Gemfibrozil
Antibiotics like erythromycin or clarithromycin
HIV medications like darunavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, etc.
Antifungal medications like Itraconazole, fluconazole, etc.
Medicines containing niacin
Drugs that weak immune system

Atorvastatin Warnings and Important Precautions

Under certain conditions, patients are strictly advice not to take the drug. Some of those conditions are:

If they are allergic to its active or inactive ingredients
If pregnant or breast-feeding
Having liver disease
Children below the age of 10 years

Under certain medical conditions, patients are recommended to take the drug only after consulting with doctors. For instance, if patients are suffering from any of the below mentioned conditions, they need to discuss it with doctors before taking the drug:

History of kidney disease
A thyroid disorder
History of hereditary muscle disorder
History of hereditary blood disorders
Drink more than two alcoholic beverages on daily basis
Taking grapefruit or drinking its juice should be strictly avoided while taking Lipitor.
It is important to take low-fat diet and exercise on regular basis while taking Lipitor.