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What Is Atorvastatin Calcium?

Atorvastatin calcium is the scientific name for Lipitor, according to The Internet Drug Index. Lipitor has been available since 1996, but was not approved by the FDA for heart attack prevention until 2004.

  1. Function

    • Atorvastatin calcium is used to lower blood lipids and treat high cholesterol, according to The Internet Drug Index.

    Types

    • Atorvastatin calcium, or Lipitor, comes in 10-, 20-, 40- and 80-milligram tablets, according to The Internet Drug Index.

    Side Effects

    • Side effects of atorvastatin calcium, or Lipitor, include weakness, unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, fever, headache, infections, joint pain, diarrhea, sinusitis, abdominal pain, back pain, constipation, allergic reaction and unexplained rashes, according to eMedTV.

    Warning

    • Rare cases of taking atorvastatin calcium have resulted in rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria, according to The Internet Drug Index.

    Fact

    • In 2004, sales worldwide for Lipitor reached $10 billion, according to Prescription Access Litigation.

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