Assess any muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by fever, malaise, and dark-colored urine. Advise patient that these symptoms may represent drug-induced myopathy, and that myopathy can progress to severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis).
What to check before giving a statin?
Before starting to take statins, you should have a blood test to ensure your liver is in a relatively good condition. You should also have a routine blood test to check the health of your liver 3 months after treatment begins, and again after 12 months.
What do I need to know before taking Lipitor?
The dosage of Lipitor needs to be individualized but initially should start at 10-20 mg/day and be guided by the results of cholesterol tests taken 2 to 4 weeks later. Take Lipitor exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the dosage without his or her advice.
What should I watch when taking Lipitor?
Common Lipitor side effects are diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and changes in some blood tests, according to Pfizer Inc. The drug label also warns of serious side effects such as liver problems and muscle problems that can lead to kidney failure.
How do you monitor statin therapy?
The ATP III recommendations for monitoring of statin therapy are as follows: check lipid panel at baseline, 6–8 weeks after starting or adjusting the medication/dose, and then every 4–6 months, check LFTs at baseline, approximately 12 weeks after starting therapy, then annually or more frequently if indicated, and …
When should I check my cholesterol after starting statins?
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. You should have a check-up at least once a year or more often if your doctor thinks it is necessary.
What should I know about atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body to decrease the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.
What should I avoid when taking atorvastatin?
Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol, or atorvastatin will not be as effective. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage. Grapefruit may interact with atorvastatin and lead to unwanted side effects.
What does Lipitor do for the heart?
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.
Does Lipitor affect blood pressure?
Does Lipitor treatment affect my blood pressure? Changes in blood pressure weren’t reported in people taking Lipitor in clinical trials. However, since the drug was approved, there have been a few studies looking at statins, including Lipitor. These studies showed that statins may slightly lower blood pressure.
What are the side effects of taking atorvastatin 20mg?
Side effects of atorvastatin include:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea.
- Cold symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose.
- Joint pain.
- Insomnia.
- Urinary tract infection.
- Nausea.
- Loss of appetite.
- Indigestion symptoms such as stomach discomfort or pain.
What are the most common side effects of Crestor?
The most common side effects may include:
Headache, muscle aches and pains, abdominal pain, weakness, and nausea. Additional side effects that have been reported with CRESTOR include memory loss and confusion. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
What should I assess before giving simvastatin?
Examination and Evaluation
Assess any joint pain, muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by fever, malaise, and dark-colored urine. Advise patient that these symptoms may represent drug-induced myopathy and that myopathy can progress to severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis).
Which laboratory testing should be performed for a patient initiating statin therapy?
Liver transaminase levels should be checked before starting statins, guidelines vary on if and when to recheck them in the absence of symptoms. Lipid levels should be rechecked one to three months after starting statins, although guidelines differ on subsequent checks.
What labs do you monitor for statins?
This statin panel includes the following tests:
- Lipid Panel (Cholesterol Testing)
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT/SGPT)
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP), High Sensitivity (Cardiac Risk Assessment)
What are the new guidelines for statins?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends low- to moderate-dose statins in adults ages 40 to 75 who have one or more risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease and at least a 1 in 10 chance of having a cardiosvascular disease event in the next 10 years.
What should you do before a cholesterol test?
You’re generally required to fast, consuming no food or liquids other than water, for nine to 12 hours before the test. Some cholesterol tests don’t require fasting, so follow your doctor’s instructions.
How high should your LDL be before medication?
Medication is typically recommended when: your cholesterol levels are high enough to increase your risk for cardiovascular disease (or you already had a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke) you have an LDL level greater than 190 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
What are the most common side effects of atorvastatin?
The most common side effects are headaches, feeling sick (nausea), diarrhoea and cold-like symptoms. Do not take atorvastatin if you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding. Keep taking atorvastatin even if you feel well, as you will still be getting the benefits.
Does atorvastatin affect potassium levels?
Atorvastatin had no effect on the maximal postexercise variations in pHv and lactate but it significantly reduced the maximal increase in plasma potassium concentration after thumb adduction and handgrip exercise, the effects being only present at D90 on 10 mg/day but occurring as early as D30 with higher dosages.
Do you have to eat before taking atorvastatin?
Swallow the tablet whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it. Take this medicine with or without food. Do not drink large amounts of alcohol with atorvastatin.
Can you eat lemons while taking Lipitor?
Other fruit
The list includes tangelos, pomelos, bitter oranges, and Seville oranges. These foods can also affect how your body metabolizes the medication. There have been no documented problems with lemons, tangerines, clementines, mandarins, navel oranges, and blood oranges.
What are the pros and cons of taking statin drugs?
Statins are a group of drugs that can reduce high cholesterol, lowering the risk of atherosclerosis and heart problems. Statins typically cause mild side effects, if any, but these drugs can, rarely, cause significant, and even life threatening, adverse effects.
Do statins affect heart rate?
Statin use might be associated with improvement in arrhythmia and heart rate variability in healthy persons with 48‐hour sleep deprivation. This finding should be confirmed by larger scale trials.
What is Lipitor 20mg used for?
Lipitor is a prescription drug used to lower bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart and blood vessel problems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the medication in 1996.
Can Lipitor lower glucose?
The Food and Drug Administration says taking statins, including Lipitor, has been linked to reported increases in blood-sugar levels and a small increased risk of developing diabetes.
Can Lipitor and lisinopril be taken together?
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between Lipitor and lisinopril. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Can you take Lipitor with blood pressure medication?
Heart Disease Risk Can Be Lowered by Combining Statins with Blood Pressure Drugs. Researchers say prescribing statins along with blood pressure medications improves the survival odds for people with hypertension.
What is the best cholesterol medication with the least side effects?
In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.
What are the side effects of taking statins for cholesterol?
The most common statin side effects include:
- Headache.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Flushing of the skin.
- Muscle aches, tenderness, or weakness (myalgia)
- Drowsiness.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Abdominal cramping or pain.
Can you eat oranges while taking atorvastatin?
Orange juice is safe to drink with Atorvastatin. Contact your prescriber immediately if you experience unexplained muscle aches, muscle pain or tenderness, general weakness or fatigue, side or back pain, or decreased urination while taking Atorvastatin.
What is the difference between Crestor and Lipitor?
The main difference between Lipitor and Crestor is the active ingredient in each medication. The active ingredient in Lipitor is atorvastatin. The active ingredient in Crestor is rosuvastatin. Crestor is considered a more potent statin, while Lipitor has been FDA-approved longer than Crestor.
What is the difference between rosuvastatin and atorvastatin?
Rosuvastatin provided significantly greater LDL-C reductions than atorvastatin, both at the initial dose of 10 mg and also when titrated over the dose range of 10–40 mg for rosuvastatin and 10–80 mg for atorvastatin.
What are the contraindications of rosuvastatin?
Who should not take ROSUVASTATIN CALCIUM?
- untreated decreased level of thyroid hormones.
- dehydration.
- alcoholism.
- a hemorrhage in the brain.
- liver failure.
- liver problems.
- bloody urine.
- a condition with muscle tissue breakdown called rhabdomyolysis.
What should I assess before giving warfarin?
Assessment
- Assess for signs of bleeding and hemorrhage (bleeding gums, nosebleed, unusual bruising, tarry, black stools, hematuria, fall in hematocrit or BP, guaiac-positive stools, urine, or nasogastric aspirate).
- Assess for evidence of additional or increased thrombosis. Symptoms depend on area of involvement.
What should you assess before giving gabapentin?
Examination and Evaluation
- Document the number, duration, and severity of seizures to help determine if this drug is effective in reducing seizure activity.
- Monitor drowsiness, anxiety, confusion, and other changes in mood or behavior (hostility, emotional lability, concentration difficulties).
What are the nursing implications for aspirin?
Nursing considerations
– Assess pain and/or pyrexia one hour before or after medication. – In long-term therapy monitor renal and liver function and ototoxicity. – Assess other medication for possible interactions – especially warfarin which is a special hazard.
When do you start statin based on Ascvd risk?
While prior guidelines suggested high-intensity statins for patients with diabetes if their 10-year ASCVD risk is ≥7.5%, the current guidelines recommend initiating high-intensity statin for those with the presence of multiple risk factors to reduce LDL-C levels by ≥50%.
When should I start statin Ascvd?
In adults 40 to 75 years of age without diabetes mellitus and with LDL-C levels ≥70 mg/dl (≥1.8 mmol/L), at a 10-year ASCVD risk of ≥7.5%, start a moderate-intensity statin if a discussion of treatment options favors statin therapy.
Which of the following is the route of administration for atorvastatin?
Oral Administration
Administer orally at about the same time each day, at any time of day. Atorvastatin may be administered orally without regard to meals. Avoid grapefruit juice to avoid potential increases in drug serum concentrations.
What blood tests will be ordered regularly for a client on statin drugs?
Cholesterol test for LDL, HDL, Total and Triglycerides.
Do you need to monitor LFTs on statins?
Current liver function testing for statin monitoring is largely unnecessary and costly. Statins do not cause liver disease. Both reduction in test frequency and use of a single alanine transaminase (ALT) rather than a full seven analyte liver function test (LFT) array would reduce cost and may benefit patients.