Product Details

What you need to know before you take atorvastatin

Do not take atorvastatin: – if you are allergic to atorvastatin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6) – if you have or have ever had a disease which affects the liver. – if you have had any unexplained abnormal blood tests for liver function – if you are a woman able to have children and not using reliable contraception – if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant – if you are breast-feeding – if you use the combination of glecaprevir/ pibrentasvir in the treatment of hepatitis C Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking atorvastatin: – if you have severe respiratory failure. – if you are taking or have taken in the last 7 days a medicine called fusidic acid, (a medicine for bacterial infection) orally or by injection. The combination of fusidic acid and atorvastatin can lead to serious muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis) – if you have had a previous stroke with bleeding into the brain, or have small pockets of fluid in the brain from previous strokes – if you have kidney problems – if you have an under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) – if you have had repeated or unexplained muscle aches or pains, a personal history or family history of muscle problems – if you have had previous muscular problems during treatment with other lipid-lowering medicines (e.g. other ‘-statin’ or ‘-fibrate’ medicines) – if you regularly drink a large amount of alcohol – if you have a history of liver disease – if you are older than 70 years – If you have or have had myasthenia (a disease with general muscle weakness including in some cases muscles used when breathing), or ocular myasthenia (a disease causing eye muscle weakness) as statins may sometimes aggravate the condition or lead to the occurrence of myasthenia (see section 4). If any of these apply to you, your doctor will need to carry out a blood test before and possibly during your atorvastatin treatment to predict your risk of muscle related side effects. The risk of muscle related side effects e.g. rhabdomyolysis is known to increase when certain medicines are taken at the same time (see section 2 “Other medicines and atorvastatin”). Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have a muscle weakness that is constant. Additional tests and medicines may be needed to diagnose and treat this. While you are on this medicine your doctor will monitor you closely if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes. You are likely to be at risk of developing diabetes if you have high levels of sugars and fats in your blood, are overweight and have high blood pressure. Other medicines and Atorvastatin Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. There are some medicines that may change the effect of atorvastatin or their effect may be changed by atorvastatin. This type of interaction could make one or both of the medicines less effective. Alternatively, it could increase the risk or severity of side-effects, including the important muscle wasting condition known as rhabdomyolysis described in section 4: – Medicines used to alter the way your immune system works, e.g. ciclosporin. – Certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines, e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, rifampin, fusidic acid. – Other medicines to regulate lipid levels, e.g. gemfibrozil, other fibrates, colestipol – Some calcium channel blockers used for angina or high blood pressure, e.g. amlodipine, diltiazem; medicines to regulate your heart rhythm e.g. digoxin, verapamil, amiodarone – Letermovir, a medicine that helps stop you from getting ill from cytomegalovirus. – Medicines used in the treatment of HIV e.g. ritonavir, lopinavir, atazanavir, indinavir, darunavir, the combination of tipranavir/ritonavir etc. – Some medicines used in the treatment of hepatitis C e.g. telaprevir, boceprevir and the combination of elbasvir/ grazoprevir, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir – Other medicines known to interact with atorvastatin include ezetimibe (which lowers cholesterol), warfarin (which reduces blood clotting), oral contraceptives, stiripentol (an anti-convulsant for epilepsy), cimetidine (used for heartburn and peptic ulcers), phenazone (a painkiller), colchicine (used to treat gout), and antacids (indigestion products containing aluminium or magnesium) – Medicines obtained without a prescription: St John’s Wort – If you need to take oral fusidic acid to treat a bacterial infection you will need to temporarily stop using this medicine. Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to restart atorvastatin. Taking atorvastatin with fusidic acid may rarely lead to muscle weakness, tenderness or pain (rhabdomyolysis). See more information regarding rhabdomyolysis in section 4. Atorvastatin with food and drink and alcohol See section 3 for instructions on how to take atorvastatin. Please note the following: Grapefruit juice Do not take more than one or two small glasses of grapefruit juice per day because large quantities of grapefruit juice can change the effects of atorvastatin. Alcohol Avoid drinking too much alcohol while taking this medicine. See section 2 “Warnings and precautions” for details. Pregnancy and breast-feeding Do not take atorvastatin if you are pregnant, or if you are trying to become pregnant. Do not take atorvastatin if you are able to become pregnant unless you use reliable contraceptive measures. Do not take atorvastatin if you are breast-feeding. The safety of atorvastatin during pregnancy and breast-feeding has not yet been proven. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine. Driving and using machines Normally this medicine does not affect your ability to drive or operate machines. However, do not drive if this medicine affects your ability to drive. Do not use any tools or machines if your ability to use them is affected by this medicine. Atorvastatin contains lactose If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.