Side Effects of Lipitor on Liver Function

Lipitor, a popular medication for high cholesterol, has several side effects. One of the most worrisome is that it can cause problems with the liver.

Statistics

• Liver problems are rare and affect less than two percent of those who take Lipitor, according to eMedTV. The reason these rare side effects get so much attention is the potential for them to be serious.

Symptoms

• Side effects that may indicate you are having liver problems include vomiting, nausea, or stomach pain that persists, urine that is a dark color, yellow coloring in your skin or the white part of your eyes and fatigue. If you have any of these symptoms, you should call your doctor.

Dosage

• Your doctor will probably start you off on a lower dose of Lipitor and increase it if needed. A typical dose is 10 or 20 milligrams to start, taken once a day. Blood tests for cholesterol and liver enzyme levels will be taken. The maximum dosage is 80 milligrams. Lipitor usually takes about two weeks before it starts to lower your cholesterol levels.

Warnings

• If you have a history of problems with your liver, or there is liver disease in your family, Lipitor may not be the best medication for you. Your doctor will likely proceed with caution by doing a blood test before you start taking it, or choose a different drug instead. This is also true if you are a heavy drinker, since excessive alcohol can damage the liver. If you have had a severe reaction to other drugs in the statin class, tell your doctor before taking Lipitor.

Solution

• To make sure your liver continues to function properly while you are taking Lipitor, your doctor will order periodic blood tests for levels of liver enzyme. Your doctor may lower your dosage of Lipitor or put you on a different medication if your liver enzyme is a high level.