Lipitor 10mg Tablets
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LIPITOR® 10mg TABLETS/ATORVASTATIN 10mg TABLETS (atorvastatin calcium)
Patient Information Leaflet
This product is known as the above names, but will be referred to throughout this leaflet as Lipitor. Other strengths (20mg, 40mg and 80mg), are also available.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4. In this leaflet:
1. What Lipitor is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Lipitor
3. How to take Lipitor
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Lipitor
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Lipitor is and what it is used for
Lipitor belongs to a group of medicines known as statins, which are lipid (fat) regulating medicines.
Lipitor is used to lower lipids known as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood when a low fat diet and life style changes on their own have failed. If you are at an increased risk of heart disease, Lipitor can also be used to reduce such risk even if your cholesterol levels are normal. You should maintain a standard cholesterol lowering diet during treatment.
2. What you need to know before you take Lipitor
Do not take Lipitor
• if you are hypersensitive (allergic) to Lipitor or to any similar medicines used to lower blood lipids or to any of the other ingredients of the 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.
Warnings and precautions
The following are reasons why Lipitor may not be suitable for you:
• 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.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Lipitor
• if you have severe respiratory failure.
If any of these apply to you, your doctor will need to carry out a blood test before and possibly during your Lipitor 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 Lipitor”).
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 Lipitor
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 Lipitor, or their effect may be changed by Lipitor. 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
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
Other medicines known to interact with Lipitor 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
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Lipitor with food and drink
See Section 3 for instructions on how to take Lipitor. 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 Lipitor.
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 Lipitor if you are pregnant, or if you are trying to become pregnant.
Do not take Lipitor if you are able to become pregnant unless you use reliable contraceptive measures.
Do not take Lipitor if you are breast-feeding.
The safety of Lipitor 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.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Lipitor
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
3. How to take Lipitor
Before starting treatment, your doctor will place you on a low-cholesterol diet, which you should maintain also during therapy with Lipitor.
The usual starting dose of Lipitor is 10 mg once a day in adults and children aged 10 years or older. This may be increased if necessary by your doctor until you are taking the amount you need. Your doctor will adapt the dose at intervals of 4 weeks or more. The maximum dose of Lipitor is 80 mg once daily for adults and 20 mg once daily for children.
Lipitor tablets should be swallowed whole with a drink of water, and can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. However, try to take your tablet at the same time every day.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The duration of treatment with Lipitor is determined by your doctor.
Please ask your doctor if you think that the effect of Lipitor is too strong or too weak.
If you take more Lipitor than you should
If you accidently take too many Lipitor tablets (more than your usual daily dose), contact your doctor or nearest hospital for advice.
If you forget to take Lipitor
If you forget to take a dose, just take your next scheduled dose at the correct time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Lipitor
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine or wish to stop your treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking your tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital accident and emergency department.
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
• Serious allergic reaction which causes swelling of the face, tongue and throat that can cause great difficulty in breathing.
• Serious illness with severe peeling and swelling of the skin, blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes genitals and fever. Skin rash with pink-red blotches especially on palms of hands or soles of feet which may blister.
• Muscle weakness, tenderness or pain and particularly, if at the same time, you feel unwell or have a high temperature it may be caused by an abnormal muscle breakdown which can be life-threatening and lead to kidney problems.
Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
If you experience problems with unexpected or unusual bleeding or bruising, this may be suggestive of a liver complaint. You should consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Other possible side effects with Lipitor:
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) include:
• inflammation of the nasal passages, pain in the throat, nose bleed
• allergic reactions
• increases in blood sugar levels (if you have diabetes continue careful monitoring of your blood sugar levels), increase in blood creatine kinase
• headache
• nausea, constipation, wind, indigestion, diarrhoea
• joint pain, muscle pain and back pain
• blood test results that show your liver function can become abnormal
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) include:
• anorexia (loss of appetite), weight gain, decreases in blood sugar levels (if you have diabetes you should continue careful monitoring of your blood sugar levels)
• having nightmares, insomnia
• dizziness, numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes, reductions of sensation to pain or touch, change in sense of taste, loss of memory
• blurred vision
• ringing in the ears and/or head
• vomiting, belching, abdominal pain upper and lower, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas leading to stomach pain)
• hepatitis (liver inflammation)
• rash, skin rash and itching, hives, hair loss
• neck pain, muscle fatigue
• fatigue, feeling unwell, weakness, chest pain, swelling especially in the ankles (oedema), raised temperature
• urine tests that are positive for white blood cells
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) include:
• visual disturbance
• unexpected bleeding or bruising
• cholestasis (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
• tendon injury
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people) include:
• an allergic reaction - symptoms may include sudden wheezing and chest pain or tightness, swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, collapse
• hearing loss
• gynecomastia (breast enlargement in men and women).
Possible side effects reported with some statins (medicines of the same type):
• Sexual difficulties
• Depression
• Breathing problems including persistent cough and/or shortness of breath or fever
• Diabetes. This is more likely if you have high levels of sugars and fats in your blood, are overweight and have high blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor you while you are taking this medicine
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly (see details below). By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Yellow Card Scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
5. How to store Lipitor
• Store below 25°C in the original package.
• KEEP ALL MEDICINES OUT OF THE SIGHT AND REACH OF CHILDREN.
• If your doctor tells you to stop taking the tablets, please take them back to the pharmacist for safe disposal.
• Only keep the tablets if your doctor tells you to.
• If the tablets become discoloured or show signs of any deterioration, you should seek the advice of your pharmacist who will advise you what to do.
• Do not use after the last day of the month shown in the expiry date on the carton and blister.
• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Lipitor contains
Your medicine is called Lipitor 10mg tablets/Atorvastatin 10mg tablets.
Each tablet contains 10mg of the active ingredient, atorvastatin (as the calcium trihydrate).
Lipitor film-coated tablets are white, round and are marked with 10 on one side and ATV on the other side.
Lipitor 10mg tablets/Atorvastatin 10mg tablets also contain the following:
Lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropylcellulose, calcium carbonate, polysorbate 80, hypromellose, macrogol, talc, simethicone, stearic emulsifiers, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, thickeners and titanium dioxide (E171).
Lipitor 10mg tablets/Atorvastatin 10mg tablets are available as blister packs of 28 tablets.
POM PL No: 6464/6464/0986 Lipitor 10mg tablets/Atorvastatin 10mg tablets
This product is manufactured by Industrias Farmaceuticas Almirall, S.L., Ctra. Nacional II, Km 593 08740 Sants Andreu de la Barca - Barcelona, Spain and is procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product Licence holder:
Waymade plc, Miles Gray Road, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3FR
Leaflet revision and issue date (Ref.) 18.3.2014
Lipitor is a registered trademark of PFIZER IRELAND PHARMACEUTICALS PREVENCOR is a registered trademark in Spain for LIPITOR