Atorvastatin is indicated for the following cases-

• Hyperlipidemia
• Prevention of Cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction, stroke, angina etc.)

Hyperlipidemia

Prevention of Cardiovascular diseases

• Atorvastatin is available as 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg tablets.
• The recommended starting dose of ATORVASTATIN is 10 or 20 mg once daily.
• Patients who require a large reduction in LDL-C (more than 45%) may be started at 40 mg once daily.
• The dosage range of ATORVASTATIN is 10 to 80 mg once daily. ATORVASTATIN can be administered as a single dose at any time of the day, with or without food.
• The starting dose and maintenance doses of ATORVASTATIN should be individualized according to patient characteristics such as goal of therapy and response.
• After initiation and/or upon titration of ATORVASTATIN, lipid levels should be analyzed within 2 to 4 weeks and dosage adjusted accordingly.

The most commonly reported adverse reactions regardless of causality, in patients treated with ATORVASTATIN were:

• nasopharyngitis 
• arthralgia/ myalgia 
• diarrhea 
• pain in extremity 
• urinary tract infection 

Nasopharyngitis

Myalgia

Diarrhea

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

• Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria have been reported with ATORVASTATIN and with other drugs in this class. A history of renal impairment may be a risk factor for the development of rhabdomyolysis. Such patients merit closer monitoring for skeletal muscle effects.
• The risk of myopathy during treatment with drugs in this class is increased with concurrent administration of cyclosporine, fibric acid derivatives, erythromycin, clarithromycin, combination of ritonavir plus saquinavir or lopinavir plus ritonavir, niacin, or azole antifungals.
• Physicians considering combined therapy with ATORVASTATIN and fibric acid derivatives, erythromycin, clarithromycin, a combination of ritonavir plus saquinavir or lopinavir plus ritonavir, immunosuppressive drugs, azole antifungals, or lipid-modifying doses of niacin should carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks and should carefully monitor patients for any signs or symptoms of muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly during the initial months of therapy and during any periods of upward dosage titration of either drug. Lower starting and maintenance doses of atorvastatin should be considered when taken concomitantly with the aforementioned drugs