Before Using This medicine: In addition to its helpful effects in treating your medical problem, this type of medicine may have some harmful effects. In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For atorvastatin, the following should be considered: Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to atorvastatin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes. Diet—Before prescribing medicine for your condition, your doctor will probably try to control your condition by prescribing a personal diet for you. Such a diet may be low in fats, sugars, and/or cholesterol. Many people are able to control their condition by carefully following their doctor's orders for proper diet and exercise. Medicine is prescribed only when additional help is needed and is effective only when a schedule of diet and exercise is properly followed. Also, this medicine is less effective if you are greatly overweight. It may be very important for you to go on a weight-reducing diet. However, check with your doctor before going on any diet. Pregnancy—Atorvastatin should not be used during pregnancy or by women who plan to become pregnant in the near future. This medicine blocks formation of cholesterol, which is necessary for the fetus to develop properly. Atorvastatin may cause birth defects or other problems in the baby if taken during pregnancy. An effective form of birth control should be used during treatment with these medicines. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you have become pregnant while taking this medicine . Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor. Breast-feeding—It is not known if atorvastatin passes into breast milk. However, it should not be used during breast-feeding because it may cause serious unwanted effects in nursing babies. Children—Studies on atorvastatin have been done only in adult patients and there is no specific information comparing use of atorvastatin in children with use in other age groups. Older adults—This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, blood levels of atorvastatin tend to be higher in older people than they do in younger adults. Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking atorvastatin it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following medications: Antifungals, azole (e.g., Diflucan) or Erythromycin (e.g., Erythrocin) or Gemfibrozil (e.g., Lopid) or Immunosuppressants, especially cyclosporine (e.g., Sandimmune) or Niacin (nicotinic acid)—Use of these medicines with atorvastatin may increase the risk of developing muscle problems (causing the release of muscle pigment into the urine) that may lead to kidney failure

Other Medical Problems: The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of atorvastatin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially: Alcohol abuse (or history of) or Liver disease (or history of) or Liver enzymes, persistently high levels—Use of this medicine may make liver problems worse Convulsions (seizures), not well-controlled, or Electrolyte or metabolic enzyme deficiencies or disorders or Infection, severe or Low blood pressure or Major surgery or trauma, recent—Patients with these conditions may be at risk of developing muscle problems (causing the release of muscle pigment into the urine) that may lead to kidney failure

Proper Use of This Medicine: Take one tablet/capsule daily or as needed.

Precautions While Using This Medicine: It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and to decide if you should continue to take it. Check with your doctor immediately if you think that you may be pregnant. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors may cause birth defects or other problems in the baby if taken during pregnancy. Before having any kind of surgery (including dental surgery) or emergency treatment, tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking this medicine. Do not take over-the-counter (OTC) niacin preparations without consulting your doctor. Niacin may increase atorvastatin's adverse effects on muscle, which can lead to serious kidney problems. Do not use excessive amounts of alcohol while taking atorvastatin because it can worsen the adverse effects of this medicine on the liver. Check with your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if it is accompanied by unusual tiredness or fever, because the medicine's adverse effects on muscle can lead to serious kidney problems.

Side Effects of This Medicine: Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: Less common or rare Muscle cramps, pain, stiffness, swelling, or weakness, especially if accompanied by unusual tiredness or fever.