An increase in blood cholesterol can lead to the development of a dangerous disease - atherosclerosis. Fight the development of hypercholesterolemia, as well as hyperlipidemia (an abnormally high concentration of fat molecules in the blood) should be at the stage of their primary manifestation. Among the drugs designed to solve these problems, Atorvastatin stands out. Instructions for use with this medication are attached to each box without fail. Unfortunately, there is no practice in society to get acquainted with the manufacturer’s recommendations before purchasing and using the product. The medicine "Atorvastatin" refers to those drugs that should be taken with extreme caution and only on the recommendation of a doctor. Let's try to describe it in an accessible language.
What is the drug Atorvastatin?
Instructions for use contain complex definitions of the drug, calling it a lipid-lowering agent, as well as an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase. Incomprehensible terms can be useful only to doctors, patients do not talk about anything.
The composition of the drug includes the active substance atorvastatin calcium. The essence of the action of the active substance is the ability to inhibit special enzymes that increase the rate of lipid and cholesterol metabolism. As a result of exposure to liver cells, they quickly capture free fat molecules and process them. Of course, the effect of the drug is described here extremely simplified, but even people without a medical education can understand this explanation.
The drug is released in tablet form of 20 and 10 mg. The tablet is coated, convex, has a white color. The name of the drug may be different, for example, Atorvastatin Teva has proven itself well. They sell the drug in cardboard packages, in which there are several metallized blisters.
Indications for the use of the drug "Atorvastatin"
Instructions for use should include information about the indications. Official sources contain the following information:
- abnormally high concentrations of lipids in the blood;
- abnormally high concentrations of cholesterol in the blood;
- elevated serum triglycerides;
- dbetalipoproteinemia.
It should be noted that the drug is not used as the main means. To achieve the desired effect, it will be necessary to radically change the diet, and with the recommendation of a doctor, use additional therapy.
Contraindications to the use of the drug "Atorvastatin"
Instructions for use, in addition to the main items describing the drug, should also include information about contraindications. The medicine is not used for:
- pregnancy
- hypersensitivity to the components;
- cirrhosis of the liver, or liver failure;
- impaired kidney function;
- breastfeeding.
You should carefully monitor the use of the drug by people suffering from alcoholism or epilepsy.
Method of administration, dose limits, overdose
The dosage and regimen are determined by the attending physician. The maximum daily dosage is only 80 mg, that is, four tablets of 20 mg or 8 tablets of 10 mg. The drug is used in conjunction with a strict diet.
In case of an overdose, the following side effects may occur:
- sleep disturbances of a different nature;
- facial paralysis;
- headaches;
- loss of consciousness;
- depression and other disorders of the nervous system;
- disturbances in the functioning of the senses;
- arrhythmia;
- palpitations
- angina pectoris and other disorders by the CCC;
- changes in blood composition and impaired hematopoiesis;
- as well as other side effects from the digestive, musculoskeletal, and genitourinary systems;
The studies also revealed possible allergic phenomena, disturbances in the normal state of the skin, as well as an increase in patient weight.
Side effects can occur if the dosage is observed, although the percentage of manifestations is not large. In some cases, it makes up only 2% of the subjects.