The most common medicine to lower total cholesterol and LDL is Atorvastatin. Patient reviews about him are mixed, although the quality of the drug is confirmed by clinical studies. At the same time, the medicine has only one full-fledged competitor - Rosuvastatin (and its generics). Therefore, it is obvious that patient reviews cannot provide objective information about the drug Atorvastatin. So, to evaluate its effects, a detailed analysis of the mechanism of action and the provisions of the attached instructions for use is required.
Systemic characteristics of the drug
Atorvastatin belongs to the pharmacological class of statins of the 3rd generation. Due to the inhibition of the enzymes responsible for the endogenous synthesis of cholesterol, the amount of atherogenic fraction of lipoproteins is reduced. Low-density fractions (LDL) can increase the deposition of cholesterol and cause immune reactions in the endothelium, which is why a plaque develops.
Like other statins, atorvastatin significantly reduces the amount of LDL, and therefore significantly slows down the growth of plaques. In this case, a tendency to its involution is not observed, and the diameter of the coronary artery (or any other affected by atherosclerosis) remains the same. The clinical effect is a slowdown in the development of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular or chronic arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities.
Atorvastatin: indications for use
Before taking it, you need to determine the indications for the use of the drug. They follow from the main mechanism of its action and are associated with the hypocholesterolemic effect. Range of indications:
- hereditary (family) heterozygous hypercholesterolemia;
- polygenic (primary) hypercholesterolemia of class IIa according to Fredrickson;
- combined (IIb) dyslipidemia;
- homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia;
- hypertriglyceridemia (statin treatment in combination with diet and exercise);
- conditions associated with atherosclerotic lesions of the vascular wall of the heart, brain, kidneys, limbs;
- arterial hypertension with a high cardiovascular risk;
- prevention of acute coronary events against the background of existing atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries;
- prevention of recurrent myocardial infarction or cerebral stroke.
These indications determine the cases when the appointment of the drug “Atorvastatin” is required. Reviews of doctors about its use clearly confirm this need. It has been proven that statins, including Atorvastatin, with its many generics, are much safer than cardioform of acetylsalicylic acid, although similarly they help significantly reduce the likelihood of developing the first myocardial infarction and a second case.
Analogues of the drug
All Atorvastatin tablets, reviews of which can be read below, are produced by various pharmacological companies. Most often, the names of the drugs are modified, which allows them to be patented. The trade names of analogues, that is, drugs that contain atorvastatin as an active ingredient, are as follows: "Anvistat" and "Atocord", "Atomas" and "Ator", "Atorvox" and "Atoris", "Vazotor" and "Lipoford", Liprimar and Liptonorm, Novostat and Torvazin, Torvakard and Tulip.
Also, some manufacturers produce their medicine “Atorvastatin” (reviews can be read below) under the same trade name. Actavis, Vertex, Izvarino Pharma, ALSI Pharma, Canon Pharma, Obolensk pharmaceutical company, Protek-SVM, Severnaya Zvezda, TABUK Pharmaceuticals, TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries and others produce the drug, the name which consists of INN (Atorvastatin) and a traditional prefix. An example is Atorvastatin Teva, reviews of which confirm its clinical effectiveness.
Structure
The instructions for use attached to the Atorvastatin preparation, reviews and clinical recommendations do not contain information about the differences in dosage forms. In practice, such differences exist, and they regulate the dynamics of the therapeutic effect. The important thing is how quickly the therapeutic effect of the dose taken occurs. That is why the dosage form of the original drug "Liprimar" is a reference.
The dosage form consists of atorvastatin calcium and a tablet coating. The latter, in turn, consists of calcium carbonate, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, polysorbate 80, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, talc, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, simethiconic emulsion and benzoic acid.
The instructions for use attached to the original Atorvastatin preparation (reviews also indicate this) do not contain information about the weight of each component. This is the trade secret of the American company PFIZER HCP CORPORATION. It is this composition of the Liprimar dosage form that allows us to achieve a constant concentration of atorvastatin in the blood.
Combined forms of Atorvastatin
Atorvastatin drug price (patient reviews confirm this) remains available to a wide range of patients. This is a relatively safe medicine that can be combined with other classes of drugs. Most often, Atorvastatin and other statins are released in isolation, that is, in one tablet, only one active substance. However, there are combined forms.
Examples are the following drugs: Kaduet, Duplekor, Statin. Here Atorvastatin is combined with amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker that is also often used in the treatment of cardiac pathologies. The dosage of this drug is selected by the doctor.
Standard dosages of Atorvastatin
Atorvastatin, the indications for use, the reviews and recommendations of the clinical use of which we are considering in our review, is available in three standard dosages: 10, 40 and 20 mg. The combined preparation "Kaduet" contains 10 mg of atorvastatin and 5 amlodipine. "Statins" is available in two forms: 10/5 and 10/10 mg. Duplexor has 4 doses of atorvastatin and amlodipine: 10/5, 10/10, 20/5, 20/10 mg. This reduces the number of tablets taken to patients who must use both statins and calcium antagonists to treat diseases. This achieves a reduction in the cost of treatment.
Selection of analogues of Atorvastatin
The first drug containing atorvastatin that went on sale is Liprimar. This is the original medicine with which all tests were conducted. In the future, other drugs appeared under other names. For their registration only formal confirmation of bioequivalence to Liprimaru was required. At the moment, few manufacturers can boast of this. Therefore, when receiving a prescription from the doctor for analogues of the Atorvastatin drug, reviews about them should be carefully studied.
Often, the doctor recommends that drug that has proved its bioequivalence to Liprimaru and which actually has the effect described in the attached instructions. The cost of Liprimar is affordable, which does not complicate its acquisition for treatment. However, it is not prescribed to patients with available benefits due to disability for the general disease. At the same time, those drugs that can be prescribed preferentially are controlled by the Center for Expertise and Testing in Medicine. Their effectiveness is also proven.
Patient reviews about Atorvastatin
The review of any patient cannot be competent about the drug Atorvastatin, because without evaluating the lipid profile there is no way to judge the effect of the drug. Therefore, in order to verify the effectiveness, changes in lipid fractions should be analyzed. Moreover, any Atorvastatin, reviews of which are abundant, contains information about adverse reactions. The most common are allergic effects. The toxicity of the drug is low and often invisible. However, in any case, with the onset of cytolysis syndrome and with a triple increase in transaminases, drug withdrawal is required.
Patients note that toxic effects are rare. For this reason, many patients advise the drug to friends or relatives, although the appointment requires consultation with a physician, assessment of risk factors, and determination of blood lipid fractions. In addition, many assign the drug non-existent properties, for example, that it is able to reduce body weight.
But you need to look carefully at the reviews available regarding the drug Atorvastatin. It is not suitable for weight loss, but can only be prescribed along with exercise and diet. The combined use of Atorvastatin and other lipid-lowering drugs, as is often recommended by people without a medical education, leads to rhabdomyolysis and toxic liver damage.
Reviews of doctors about the drug
About the drug Atorvastatin, the doctor’s review is much more important than the patient’s review. The same applies to other drugs. In general, all theses of expert reviews characterize the safety of the drug and its effectiveness. It lowers total cholesterol and LDL, while increasing HDL. This is extremely important because it allows you to control the growth of atherosclerotic plaques and delay the development of myocardial infarction.
The dynamics of the hypocholesterolemic effect of the drug Atorvastatin (a review of almost every doctor confirms this) is very significant. Normalization of the lipid profile of blood serum is achieved after 1.5-2 months. At "Rosuvastatin" this is achieved in 30-50 days. However, Atorvastatin has more clinical studies so far, confirming its effectiveness and safety. In general, these are two good drugs, each of which can be used to treat hypercholesterolemia and prevent heart disease.
Cost of drugs
The price of Atorvastatin (the reviews of many people testify to this) varies depending on the manufacturer. The most expensive is Liprimar - the original drug. The cost of a monthly treatment is 900-1100 rubles when taken in a dose of 40 mg. With a daily dosage of 20 mg, the cost of treatment is 800-900 rubles. Liprimar generics are much cheaper.
The cost of a monthly treatment with Atoris 40 mg is 500 rubles, and when taken in a dose of 20 mg - 200 rubles. At the same time, Atoris is a bioequivalent drug to Liprimaru that fully replaces it. There are also cheaper drugs: “Torvacard”, “Lipitor”, “Torvas”, the cost of a monthly treatment in a daily dose of 40 mg will be cheaper than 300 rubles. And the price of therapy with a daily dosage of 20 mg will be 100-150 rubles.