Is 20 mg of atorvastatin a lot?

The usual dose for adults is between 10mg and 80mg a day. Your dose depends on the reason why you're taking it, your cholesterol levels, and what other medicines you're taking.

What does 20mg of atorvastatin do?

Atorvastatin is used together with a proper diet to lower cholesterol and triglyceride (fats) levels in the blood. This medicine may help prevent medical problems (eg, chest pain, heart attack, or stroke) that are caused by fats clogging the blood vessels.

How long does it take for 20mg atorvastatin to lower cholesterol?

Atorvastatin has a rapid onset of action; approximately 90% of the LDL cholesterol reduction from baseline occurred within the first 2 weeks of treatment (Figure). Increasing doses of atorvastatin produced progressive increases in efficacy.

Is 20 mg of atorvastatin effective?

Result: Atorvastatin 20 mg reduced LDL-C levels significantly more than atorvastatin 10 mg after 12 weeks (42.4% vs. 33.5%, p < 0.0001).

How long does atorvastatin 20 mg take to work?

After starting a statin, it takes about six weeks for cholesterol levels to stabilise, so most doctors would re-check your cholesterol after about eight weeks.

Statin Side Effects | Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin Side Effects & Why They Occur

What are the most common side effects of atorvastatin 20 mg?

Can you get off statins once you start?

If you're taking a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, you will need to keep taking your prescription, or your cholesterol will likely go back up. Stopping your statin can put you at risk of having heart disease and other preventable health problems like stroke and heart attack from high cholesterol.

How long can you stay on atorvastatin?

The benefit of high-dose atorvastatin has been sustained for at least 5 years. Conclusion: After an ACS, high-dose atorvastatin should be continued for at least 5 years. High-dose atorvastatin demonstrated a reduction in coronary events but dose reductions and higher discontinuation rates were also noted.

What is the lowest mg of atorvastatin?

Adults—At first, 10 or 20 milligrams (mg) once a day. Some patients may need to start at 40 mg per day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 80 mg per day.

What should I avoid when taking atorvastatin?

Does atorvastatin 20 mg make you sleepy?

Atorvastatin oral tablet doesn't cause drowsiness, but it can cause other side effects.

Why do statins have to be taken at night?

So, why do people take statins at night? Many statins work more effectively when they are taken at night. This is because the enzyme which makes the cholesterol is more active at night. Also, the half-life, or the amount of time it takes for half the dose to leave your body, of some statins is short.

Does atorvastatin cause weight gain?

No, weight gain and hair loss are not side effects of Lipitor. But there may be a link between taking statin medications such as Lipitor and an increase in appetite. An older study showed that people taking statins consumed more calories and fat than people not taking such drugs.

Is atorvastatin 20 mg a blood thinner?

No, atorvastatin isn't a blood thinner. It's a statin drug that works to: help improve cholesterol problems. lower your risk for heart-related problems.

Does atorvastatin 20 mg lower blood pressure?

BP-lowering effects of atorvastatin were consistent in both daytime and nighttime periods. This study shows a mild, but consistent throughout the 24-h period BP-lowering effect of atorvastatin in patients with mild hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia.

What is the most common side effect of atorvastatin?

Muscle pain and damage

One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain. You may feel this pain as a soreness, tiredness or weakness in your muscles. The pain can be a mild discomfort, or it can be severe enough to make your daily activities difficult.

Can I take atorvastatin 20mg every other day?

Atorvastatin is the most potent statin and has a long half-life. Therefore, atorvastatin given on alternate days may be reasonable and cost effective, particularly in hypercholesterolemia patients.

Is atorvastatin 20 mg moderate?

Lower doses of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin are considered moderate intensity statins.

Can you cut a 20 mg atorvastatin in half?

Many cholesterol medications can also be cut in half. Some examples include: Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

Do I have to take atorvastatin for the rest of my life?

Depending on the reason why you're taking atorvastatin, you may have to take it for a long time, even for the rest of your life. You may want to stop atorvastatin if you think you're having side effects. Talk to your doctor first to see if it really is a side effect of atorvastatin or an unrelated problem.

Do I need to take atorvastatin for life?

Check with your doctor whether there's a particular time of day you should take your statin. You usually have to continue taking statins for life because if you stop taking them, your cholesterol will return to a high level.

Can you take a break from atorvastatin?

You will not get any withdrawal symptoms. However, stopping atorvastatin may cause your cholesterol to rise. This increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you want to stop taking your medicine, it's important to find another way to lower your cholesterol.

What should a 70 year old cholesterol be?

After having their cholesterol tested, seniors should be given a number between 190 and 260. Healthy seniors should keep their total cholesterol below 200 and their LDL cholesterol around 100. If your elderly loved one's LDL cholesterol level is above 160, he or she must start making sweeping lifestyle changes.

Can I take atorvastatin every other day?

Alternate-day treatment with atorvastatin is comparable in efficacy and safety to the established daily treatment regimen, thus being a cost effective alternative.

How can I safely come off statins?