Atorvastatus

What is Atorvastatus?

Atorvastatus is a treatment for high cholesterol. The active ingredient, Atorvastatin, benefits those with high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides or those that are at high risk of heart disease.

It's a medication you take daily, and when you are taking it you’ll normally have your cholesterol levels monitored regularly. Because it’s a maintenance treatment, you’ll normally take Atorvastatin for a long time and have your dose tweaked if and when it’s needed.

How does Atorvastatus work?

Atorvastatin, the key ingredient in Atoravastatus, is among the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) that are used as treatment for high cholesterol levels. Studies show they are the first line drugs for treating lipid disorders and can reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or ‘bad’ cholesterol by 60%.

Atorvastatin slows the production of naturally occurring cholesterol in the liver. This reduces the buildup of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Atorvastatin effectively reduces bad cholesterol and the risk of heart attack or stroke due to blocked arteries. It also has a good safety profile, so is usually well tolerated by patients.

When used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise, Atorvastatin can help to reduce the possibilities of heart disease developing and the risks associated with it.

What doses of Atorvastatus are there?

Atorvastatin comes in several strengths. Atorvastatin 10mg is the lowest dose and may be prescribed at the start of treatment to see how well you tolerate it.

Atorvastatin 20mg is a higher dose usually prescribed when Atorvastatin 10mg tablets have not been effective. If Atorvastatin 20 mg tablets still do not produce the desired results, then Atorvastatin 40 mg tablets might be prescribed. The strongest dosage of Atorvastatin 80 mg is also the most that should be taken within a 24 hours period.

How to take Atorvastatus

Your doctor will guide you about how to take Atorvastatus. 

• Swallow Atorvastatus with a glass of water
• You’ll likely have a set dose you take once a day. 
• You should aim to take it at the same time every night. Taking it with a meal you reliably have at the same time each day, dinner for example, is recommended.

Don’t make any changes to the prescribed dose without consulting your doctor. Never double up on your dose to make up for a missed dose. Simply carry on as normal with your next scheduled dosage. If you’re not sure about anything, talk to your doctor about it.

What if I take more than the prescribed dose?

If you’ve taken more Atorvastatus than you’ve been prescribed you should speak to your doctor. You should take your medication with you so they can give you the proper advice and what the risks are.

Unless you’ve taken a significantly increased dosage, the risks are likely to be minimal, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Atorvastatin?

Don’t worry, we’re all forgetful sometimes. If you forget to take your medication, simply take the next scheduled dose and carry on as you normally would. Don’t take a double dose to make up for the missed one as this will not give you any benefits and is likely to increase the risk of side effects.

If you continue to forget to take your medication, speak with a doctor, who might be able to offer advice on how to keep up the habit of daily treatments.