Archive for the ‘atorvastatin’ Category

How Should I Take Lipitor?

Thursday, September 4th, 2008

Take this medication precisely as it was decreed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your dr.. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take Atorvastatin with a full chalk of water. Lipitor can be taken with or without food.

Atorvastatin is ordinarily taken formerly a day. Try to take your dose at the same time each day. Espouse your doctor’s instructions.

To be sure this medication is helping your consideration, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may as well need to be well-tried. Do not miss whatsoever scheduled appointments.

In rare cases, Lipitor can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. This condition bathroom lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or influenza symptoms, and dark coloured urine.

Atorvastatin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and exercising weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

You may need to take Atorvastatin on a long-term base for the treatment of high cholesterin.

Store Lipitor at room temperature, protected from moisture, heat, and light-colored.

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High-Dose Lipitor Reduced the Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

Pfizer Inc announced today that Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) 80 mg reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke by 32 percent in patients who have heart disease and chronic kidney disease compared with patients taking the 10 mg dose of Lipitor. This analysis, designed and completed following the closure of the five-year Treating to New Targets (TNT) study, was published in the “Journal of the American College of Cardiology.”

“People with chronic kidney disease are more likely to die from heart disease than to develop kidney failure,” said Dr. James Shepherd, a member of the TNT steering committee and clinical academic consultant, department of pathological biochemistry, University of Glasgow Medical School. “It is critical for us to find new ways to reduce cardiovascular burden in these patients. Intensive statin therapy seems to be at least part of the solution.”

The primary endpoint of the TNT study was the reduction of major cardiovascular events, including death from heart disease, non-fatal heart attacks, resuscitated cardiac arrest, and fatal or non-fatal strokes. This sub-analysis studied 3,107 patients with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease, as defined using a standard measure of kidney function. The efficacy results in this analysis were primarily driven by reductions in heart attack and stroke. Both doses of Lipitor (80 mg and 10 mg) were well tolerated. Lipitor 80 mg is not a starting dose. The safety of Lipitor 80 mg in patients with chronic kidney disease was similar to that reported for the overall TNT population, with no unexpected safety concerns identified.

“The results of this analysis complement the large body of evidence from multiple clinical trials demonstrating the cardiovascular benefits of Lipitor,” said Halit Bander, Ph.D. senior director of Pfizer’s global cardiovascular metabolic medical team.

About Chronic Kidney Disease

An estimated 26 million Americans and 50 million people worldwide have chronic kidney disease, or permanent kidney damage due to injury or disease. Patients with chronic kidney disease do not effectively filter toxins from the blood. When chronic kidney disease progresses to kidney failure, either dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed. Chronic kidney disease recently has been recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death and illness in patients with kidney disease.

About the TNT Study

The TNT study was a landmark investigator-led trial coordinated by an independent steering committee and funded by Pfizer. It was the largest study to date evaluating the efficacy and safety of Lipitor 80 mg. The study enrolled 10,001 men and women with coronary heart disease aged 35 years to 75 years in 14 countries and followed them for an average of five years. The safety of Lipitor 80 mg in patients with chronic kidney disease was similar to that reported for the overall TNT population, with no unexpected safety concerns identified.

About Lipitor

Lipitor is the only statin proven to provide a combination of impressive average LDL (“bad” cholesterol) lowering of 39 percent to 60 percent, significant and proven cardiovascular event reductions, and a well-established safety profile across a broad range of patients.

It is the most prescribed cholesterol-lowering therapy in the world, with nearly 151 million patient-years of experience. Lipitor is supported by an extensive clinical trial program involving more than 400 ongoing and completed trials with more than 80,000 patients.

Important U.S. Prescribing Information

Lipitor is a prescription medication. It is used in patients with multiple risk factors for heart disease such as family history, high blood pressure, age, low HDL (“good” cholesterol) or smoking to reduce the risk of a heart attack, stroke, certain types of heart surgery and chest pain.

Lipitor is also used in patients with type 2 diabetes and at least one other risk factor for heart disease such as high blood pressure, smoking or complications of diabetes, including eye disease and protein in urine, to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Lipitor is used in patients with existing coronary heart disease to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, certain kinds of heart surgery, hospitalization for heart failure, and chest pain.

When diet and exercise alone are not enough, Lipitor is used along with a low-fat diet and exercise to lower cholesterol.

Lipitor is not for everyone. It is not for those with liver problems. And it is not for women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant.

Patients taking Lipitor should tell their doctors if they feel any new muscle pain or weakness. This could be a sign of rare but serious muscle side effects. Patients should tell their doctors about all medications they take. This may help avoid serious drug interactions. Doctors should do blood tests to check liver function before and during treatment and may adjust the dose. The most common side effects are gas, constipation, stomach pain and heartburn. They tend to be mild and often go away.

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Lipitor Beta Blocker

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008

Lipitor is a statin, not a beta-blocker.

Pfizer announced today that Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) 80 mg showed unexpectedly potent reduction in myocardial ischemia (a condition defined by insufficient blood supply and oxygen to the heart) in patients with chronic stable angina (chest pain). These results were presented today at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.

Lipitor significantly reduced the average number of ischemic events by nearly 70 percent and total duration of events by more than 60 percent from baseline to week 18 of the study, and sustained these effects until the end of the trial at week 26. In 60 percent of the patients treated with Lipitor, all ischemic events were completely eliminated by the end of the study. This resulted in a substantial decrease in angina attacks and need for nitroglycerin treatment.

“Ischemia is a serious condition in which the collective effect of minor untreated events can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle and the death of heart cells,” said Professor John Deanfield, British Heart Foundation Vandervell Chair of Congenital Heart Disease, professor of cardiology at University College London and lead investigator of the Double-Blind Atorvastatin Amlodipine (DUAAL) study. “These findings were a pleasant surprise because statins are not part of the current standard of care for the treatment of angina.”

About the DUAAL Study

The DUAAL study was a randomized, double-blind, multi-country study comparing Lipitor (n=103), Norvasc([R]) (amlodipine besylate) (n=104) and a combination of the two (n=104) in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic stable angina. Patients received intensive usual care therapy for their coronary artery disease including beta- blockers, long acting nitrates and aspirin.

Lipitor also caused a significant reduction in C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation that helps in identifying and stratifying individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease. The anti-ischemic results demonstrated by Lipitor alone were remarkably similar to those in patients taking Norvasc alone. Norvasc, a high blood pressure and anti-angina medication in the calcium channel blocker class, is a part of the standard of care for this patient population, so it was expected to have benefit on the patients studied. Norvasc also significantly reduced the average number of ischemic events by approximately 70 percent and total duration of events by more than 60 percent. This was mirrored by a substantial decrease in angina attacks and need for nitroglycerin treatment.

The combination of Lipitor and Norvasc also offered a significant reduction in ischemic events, but there was not an incremental benefit with the combination versus either Lipitor or Norvasc alone. Given the patient characteristics in this study along with the magnitude of ischemic benefits demonstrated by Lipitor and Norvasc individually, no additional benefits were demonstrated in the combination arm. The number of angina attacks and the need for nitroglycerin use was reduced to a similar degree as the ischemic events.

“Previous studies have suggested an anti-ischemic effect with Lipitor, but the magnitude of the benefit seen in this study is notable,” said Dr. Rochelle Chaiken, vice president of Pfizer global medical. “This study complements the cardiovascular benefits of Lipitor in a broad range of patients as demonstrated in more than 10 completed cardiovascular outcomes trials involving Lipitor.”

About Ischemia and Angina

Symptomatic myocardial ischemia is characterized by angina and affects more than 9 million Americans. People with any cardiovascular risk factor are at risk for developing ischemia.

Standard of care for the treatment of symptomatic ischemia typically focuses on reducing the heart’s need for oxygen or improving the supply of oxygen to the heart. This may include taking medications that slow the heart rate, reduce blood pressure and relax the blood vessels. Medication classes for ischemia include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and nitrates.

About Lipitor

Lipitor is the only statin proven to provide a combination of impressive average LDL (”bad” cholesterol) lowering of 39 percent to 60 percent, significant and proven cardiovascular event reductions, and a well-established safety profile across a broad range of patients.

It is the most prescribed cholesterol-lowering therapy in the world, with nearly 144 million patient-years of experience. Lipitor is supported by an extensive clinical trial program involving more than 400 ongoing and completed trials with more than 80,000 patients.

Important U.S. Prescribing Information

Lipitor is a prescription medication. It is used in patients with multiple risk factors for heart disease such as family history, high blood pressure, age, low HDL (”good” cholesterol) or smoking to reduce the risk of a heart attack, stroke, certain types of heart surgery and chest pain.

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Lipitor Provided an Unexpectedly Potent Heart Benefit

Monday, May 19th, 2008

Pfizer announced that Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) 80 mg showed unexpectedly potent reduction in myocardial ischemia (a condition defined by insufficient blood supply and oxygen to the heart) in patients with chronic stable angina (chest pain). These results were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.

Lipitor significantly reduced the average number of ischemic events by nearly 70 percent and total duration of events by more than 60 percent from baseline to week 18 of the study, and sustained these effects until the end of the trial at week 26. In 60 percent of the patients treated with Lipitor, all ischemic events were completely eliminated by the end of the study. This resulted in a substantial decrease in angina attacks and need for nitroglycerin treatment.

“Ischemia is a serious condition in which the collective effect of minor untreated events can lead to a weakening of the heart muscle and the death of heart cells,” said Professor John Deanfield, British Heart Foundation Vandervell Chair of Congenital Heart Disease, professor of cardiology at University College London and lead investigator of the Double-Blind Atorvastatin Amlodipine (DUAAL) study. “These findings were a pleasant surprise because statins are not part of the current standard of care for the treatment of angina.”

About the DUAAL Study

The DUAAL study was a randomized, double-blind, multi-country study comparing Lipitor (n=103), Norvasc® (amlodipine besylate) (n=104) and a combination of the two (n=104) in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic stable angina. Patients received intensive usual care therapy for their coronary artery disease including beta- blockers, long acting nitrates and aspirin.

Lipitor also caused a significant reduction in C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation that helps in identifying and stratifying individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease. The anti-ischemic results demonstrated by Lipitor alone were remarkably similar to those in patients taking Norvasc alone. Norvasc, a high blood pressure and anti-angina medication in the calcium channel blocker class, is a part of the standard of care for this patient population, so it was expected to have benefit on the patients studied. Norvasc also significantly reduced the average number of ischemic events by approximately 70 percent and total duration of events by more than 60 percent. This was mirrored by a substantial decrease in angina attacks and need for nitroglycerin treatment.

The combination of Lipitor also offered a significant reduction in ischemic events, but there was not an incremental benefit with the combination versus either Lipitor or Norvasc alone. Given the patient characteristics in this study along with the magnitude of ischemic benefits demonstrated by Lipitor individually, no additional benefits were demonstrated in the combination arm. The number of angina attacks and the need for nitroglycerin use was reduced to a similar degree as the ischemic events.

“Previous studies have suggested an anti-ischemic effect with Lipitor, but the magnitude of the benefit seen in this study is notable,” said Dr. Rochelle Chaiken, vice president of Pfizer global medical. “This study complements the cardiovascular benefits of Lipitor in a broad range of patients as demonstrated in more than 10 completed cardiovascular outcomes trials involving Lipitor.”

About Ischemia and Angina

Symptomatic myocardial ischemia is characterized by angina and affects more than 9 million Americans. People with any cardiovascular risk factor are at risk for developing ischemia.

Standard of care for the treatment of symptomatic ischemia typically focuses on reducing the heart’s need for oxygen or improving the supply of oxygen to the heart. This may include taking medications that slow the heart rate, reduce blood pressure and relax the blood vessels. Medication classes for ischemia include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and nitrates.

About Lipitor

Lipitor is the only statin proven to provide a combination of impressive average LDL (”bad” cholesterol) lowering of 39 percent to 60 percent, significant and proven cardiovascular event reductions, and a well-established safety profile across a broad range of patients.

It is the most prescribed cholesterol-lowering therapy in the world, with nearly 144 million patient-years of experience. Lipitor is supported by an extensive clinical trial program involving more than 400 ongoing and completed trials with more than 80,000 patients.

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Lipitor Reduces Carotid Lesion Inflammation

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

In patients with carotid stenosis, high doses of atorvastatin (Lipitor) reduced inflammation and microemboli, as revealed by a high-resolution imaging method.

Patients with stenosis of greater than 40% who received 80 mg of atorvastatin daily had significant reductions in inflammation at six weeks (P=0.0003) and 12 weeks (P<0.0001) from baseline, Tjun Tang, M.R.S.C., of the University of Cambridge in England, told attendees at the American College of Cardiology meeting here.

The 80-mg dose was also associated with significant reductions in the microemboli count at six and 12 weeks (P<0.0001 for both).

Patients receiving a low dose of 10 mg a day did not have significant reductions from baseline in either inflammation or microemboli count.

In the randomized, double-blind study, Tang and his colleagues tracked changes in atherosclerotic plaques using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging enhanced with ultra-small paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO), a contrast agent absorbed by macrophages, which are associated with inflammation.

Preliminary studies indicated that USPIO-enhanced MRI identified active macrophage infiltration in plaques, demonstrating potential usefulness as a surrogate marker for inflammation, the researchers said.

The iron oxide particles show up as black areas on MRI scans, and reveal the presence of inflammation in the plaques. As inflammation clears up, the black spots gradually lighten and disappear.

Using imaging to measure the effectiveness of a medication in reducing inflammation precludes the need for more definite and long-term endpoints in clinical trials, like stroke, myocardial infarction, or death, Tang said.

“USPIO-enhanced MRI methodology may be a useful imaging biomarker for the assessment of therapeutic response to anti-inflammatory interventions in patients with carotid atherosclerotic lesions,” he said.

The researchers screened a sample of patients from the general population using duplex ultrasonography. Of those, 47 who had carotid stenosis of greater than 40% and had actively absorbed USPIO were randomized to 10 mg or 80 mg of atorvastatin.

Because all of these patients needed treatment for their atherosclerosis, a placebo group was not included for ethical reasons.

There were no significant differences between the two groups at baseline.

At baseline, and then at six and 12 weeks, the patients had an MRI, were infused with the contrast agent, and then had another MRI 36 to 48 hours later to check for changes in degree of inflammation.

At each visit, transcranial Doppler ultrasound was conducted to measure microemboli.

Seven patients dropped out of the study before finishing 12 weeks of treatment: two withdrawals were statin-related, one withdrew consent because a coincidental lymphoma, and four gave other reasons.

In the high-dose group, LDL cholesterol was significantly reduced from baseline at six and 12 weeks (P<0.0001 for both).

Total cholesterol was also significantly reduced from baseline in the high-dose group at six weeks (P<0.0001) and 12 weeks (P=0.0003).

In the low-dose group, there were no significant changes in the lipid profile.

Tang said that the USPIO-enhanced MRI method could lead to the enrichment of clinical trial populations because only those patients who had active inflammation would be selected.

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How Should I Take Lipitor?

Sunday, May 4th, 2008

Take this medication on the dot as it was positive for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor of the Church. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take Lipitor with a full glass of water supply.

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) can be taken with or without food.

Lipitor is normally taken erstwhile a day. Try to take your dose at the same time each day. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

To be indisputable this medication is serving your status, your blood will motivation to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may besides need to be tested. Do non miss whatever scheduled appointments.

In rare cases, Lipitor can causal agency a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal musculus tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you possess unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, pyrexia or influenza symptoms, and dark dyed urine.

Lipitor is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, example, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

You whitethorn need to take Lipitor on a long-term cornerstone for the treatment of high cholesterin.

Shop Lipitor at room temperature, protected from moisture, heat, and light.What happens if I miss a venereal infection?

Take the missed dosage as shortly as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dot, skip the missed dose and take only the next on a regular basis scheduled dose. Do not take duplicate medicine to make up the lost dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency aesculapian attention if you cerebrate you ingest used likewise much of this music.

An overdose of Lipitor is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

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Lipitor: Cholesterol-Lowering Medication that Blocks the Production of Cholesterol

Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the bloodline. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries, conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.
Lipitor is used to treat heights cholesterol. Lipitor is as well used to lower the risk of stroke, inwardness attack, or other heart complications in people with coronary warmness disease or type 2 diabetes.

Lipitor may also be exploited for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

In rare cases, Lipitor can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal sinew tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you cause unexplained brawn pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or grippe symptoms, and dark colored urine. This medication lavatory cause parentage defects in an unborn baby. Do not utilization if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Do not take Lipitor if you ar pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease.

Before taking Lipitor, say your doctor if you have diabetes, underactive thyroid, kidney disease, a heftiness disorder, or a blood disorder:

Keep off eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Lipitor will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not pursue a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

Obviate drinking alcohol while taking Lipitor. Alcohol can rear triglyceride levels, and may also terms your liver while you are taking Lipitor.

There crataegus oxycantha be other drugs that can interact with Lipitor. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you consumption. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do non start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Before taking Lipitor:

Do not function this medication if you are supersensitized to atorvastatin, if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or if you ingest liver disease.

Ahead taking Lipitor, tell your doctor if you ar allergic to any drugs, or if you get:

* diabetes
* hypoactive thyroid
* kidney disease
* a muscleman disorder.

If you have any of these atmospheric condition, you may need a dose alteration or particular tests to safely take Lipitor.

FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects. Do not use Lipitor if you are significant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are victimisation this medication. Lipitor can buoy make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor around using a non-hormone method of parentage control (such as a condom, contraceptive diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent maternity while taking Lipitor. It is not known whether Lipitor passes into bosom milk or if it could scathe a nursing baby. Do not guide Lipitor without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Lipitor is not for use of goods and services in children younger than 10 days of long time.

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