💊 Atorvastatin Tablet 40 mg
🔹 1. Prescription / Indication:
Atorvastatin 40 mg is prescribed for:
- Severe hypercholesterolemia (high LDL-C)
- High-risk cardiovascular disease prevention
- Post-myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke
- Familial hypercholesterolemia (genetic)
- Patients who do not respond adequately to 10 or 20 mg doses
🔹 2. Description:
- Form: Oral tablet
- Strength: 40 mg atorvastatin calcium
- Appearance: Oval or oblong, white to yellow tablet (varies by brand)
- Usual Dose: Once daily
- Route: Oral
- Onset: 1–2 weeks for lipid reduction; max effect by 4–6 weeks
🔹 3. Advantages:
- Lowers LDL-C by 50% or more
- Reduces total cholesterol and triglycerides
- Raises HDL-C
- Significantly reduces:
- Risk of heart attack
- Stroke
- Coronary revascularization procedures
- Cardiovascular death
- Stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques
- Has anti-inflammatory effects
🔹 4. Nature / Pharmacological Class:
- Class: Statin / HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
- Mechanism:
- Inhibits cholesterol production in the liver
- Increases hepatic LDL receptor expression
- Improves clearance of LDL from blood
- Half-life: ~14 hours (active metabolites up to 30 hours)
- Metabolism: Liver (CYP3A4 enzyme)
🔹 5. Common Packaging:
- Strips: 10 tablets per strip
- Box: 1 to 10 strips
- May come in blisters or bottles
- Strength variants: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg
🔹 6. Storage:
- Store at < 25°C (room temperature)
- Keep away from heat, moisture, and light
- Store in original packaging
- Keep out of reach of children
🔹 7. Patient Advice / Counseling:
- Take once daily, preferably in the evening
- Can be taken with or without food
- Avoid:
- Grapefruit juice (can increase side effects)
- Excess alcohol (affects liver)
- Report immediately if:
- Muscle pain, cramps, weakness
- Dark urine or yellowing of skin/eyes
- Routine checks needed:
- Liver function tests (LFT)
- Lipid profile
- CK (Creatine Kinase) if muscle symptoms arise
- Continue a cholesterol-lowering diet and exercise plan
- Notify your doctor of all other medications (risk of interactions)
🔹 8. Purpose / Clinical Use:
- High-intensity lipid lowering
- Prevention of:
- Heart attacks
- Stroke
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Cardiac interventions (angioplasty/bypass)
- Used in:
- Diabetes + cardiovascular risk
- Obese or hypertensive patients
- Post-stent or post-CABG