Lipitor

Order Lipitor Cholesterol Tablets Online

Written by Clinical Pharmacist Hywel McGlinchy

Lipitor tablets can be ordered online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. You simply complete a medical questionnaire which is reviewed by our UK registered doctors. If authorised by our doctors, a prescription will be sent to our pharmacy team who will dispense the medication. This will then be delivered to your delivery address.

Our doctors can only prescribe statins to patients who are already prescribed this medicine from their GP.

Statins are used long term to reduce high cholesterol levels. At Simple Online Pharmacy, we can provide a one-off emergency supply to patients. If you have been prescribed statins by us previously, you will not be able to re-order.

What is Lipitor?

Lipitor is the branded version of the generic medicine atorvastatin. Branded versions of medicines are generally more expensive than the generic versions. Lipitor is used to lower cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol and can also be used to prevent heart disease in high-risk patients.

Lipitor is a type of medicine called a statin.

How does it work?

A blood test for high cholesterol shows the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. It measures the following:

• Total cholesterol
• HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol)
• LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)

High LDL levels increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, whereas high HDL levels make heart problems less likely.

Lipitor (atorvastatin) works like other statins. It blocks an enzyme in the body that is responsible for producing cholesterol. Blocking this enzyme reduces the production of ‘bad’ cholesterol and lowers the amount in the body. While it lowers ‘bad’ cholesterol, Lipitor may also increase ‘good’ cholesterol levels. 

By changing blood cholesterol levels, Lipitor reduces the risk of fatty deposits building up in blood vessels. This reduces the future risk of heart disease and problems like heart attacks and strokes.

Dose

A number of different strengths exist for Lipitor:

• 10mg
• 20mg
• 40mg
• 80mg

The dose prescribed by your doctor depends on a number of factors, such as how high your cholesterol is. In people with high cholesterol, the starting dose is usually 10mg per day. This can be slowly increased up to a maximum of 80mg per day.

The recommended dose to prevent heart disease in high risk patients is Lipitor 20mg once daily. To prevent further heart problems in people who have already had a heart attack or stroke, the usual dose is 80mg once daily. 

Lipitor tablets can be taken at any time of the day.

Lipitor Summary

Lipitor Prices

Alternatives

Statins are prescription drugs and are the most common medicines used to lower cholesterol. Other statins available are:

• Rosuvastatin
• Simvastatin
• Pravastatin
• Generic atorvastatin
• Fluvastatin

A number of different medicines are also used to lower cholesterol including:

• Bile acid sequestrants
• Bezafibrate
• Fenofibrate
• Ezetimibe

A new type of high cholesterol treatment, called PCSK9 inhibitors, can be given by injection.

What does Lipitor do?

Lipitor is used to lower cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol and can also be used to prevent heart disease in high-risk patients.

Is Lipitor a statin?

Yes, Lipitor is the brand name for atorvastatin. Atorvastatin belongs to a class of medicines called statins.

What are the most common side effects of Lipitor?

Common Lipitor side effects include:

• Nausea
• Joint, muscle or back pain
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Headaches
• Allergic reactions
• Increase in blood sugar levels (may cause type 2 diabetes in at-risk patients)
• Inflammation of the nasal passages and nose bleeds

Further information on side effects can be found in the patient information leaflet.

When should you take Lipitor?

Some statins are more effective at reducing cholesterol if taken at night. This is because your body makes most cholesterol at night. However, Lipitor is effective if taken in the morning or at night, meaning it can be taken at any time of the day.

What foods should you avoid when you take Lipitor?

Drinking large quantities of grapefruit juice can affect the way Lipitor works. Due to this, you should not drink more than one or two small glasses of grapefruit juice per day. 

You can drink alcohol during treatment with Lipitor, however, consuming large amounts of alcohol while taking Lipitor should be avoided. A good guide to follow is to stay within the recommended 14 units of alcohol a week.

Does Lipitor make you gain weight?

Weight gain is listed as an uncommon side effect of Lipitor. An uncommon side effect means less than 1 in 100 people will experience weight gain due to taking Lipitor.

Can I order Lipitor online?

Yes, Lipitor can be ordered online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. It is a prescription only medicine which means you will need to complete an online medical questionnaire. This can be reviewed by our doctors who will authorise a prescription if suitable. The prescription is sent to our pharmacy team who dispatch the medicine to your address.

Our doctors can only prescribe statins to patients who are already prescribed this medicine from their GP.

Every medicine has a risk of causing side effects and it is important to know what side effects to look out for.

Common Lipitor side effects include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Joint, muscle or back pain
• Allergic reactions
• Headaches
• Inflammation of the nasal passages and nose bleeds
• Increase in blood sugar levels (may cause type 2 diabetes in at-risk patients)

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any of the above.

It can cause rare but serious side effects. Examples of these include:

• Signs of abnormal muscle breakdown called rhabdomyolysis. Symptoms include muscle weakness, pain and/or red-brown urine and can lead to kidney failure
• Severe peeling and swelling of the skin
• Allergic reaction causing symptoms such as swelling of the face, tongue and/or lips

If you experience any of the above, seek medical attention immediately. Further information on side effects can be found in the patient information leaflet.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

• Lipitor 10mg Tablets PIL
• Lipitor 20mg Tablets PIL
• Lipitor 40mg Tablets PIL
• Lipitor 80mg Tablets PIL

Other conditions and Lipitor

It can be dangerous if taken by people with certain conditions or circumstances such as:

• If you have or have had liver problems
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• If your liver function blood test results are abnormal
• If you are allergic to atorvastatin or any of the ingredients in the tablets
• If you take Hepatitis C treatment containing glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

More information is available in the patient information leaflet.

Interactions with other medicines

Lipitor can interact with certain medicines, which may affect how one or both medicines work. Some examples are listed below:

• Ciclosporin
• Certain antibiotics e.g fusidic acid, erythromycin, rifampicin
• Fibrates
• Certain anti-HIV medicines
• Certain Hepatitis C medicines
• Warfarin
• Cimetidine
• The herbal medicine St John’s Wort

Further information can be seen in the patient information leaflet.