💊 Atorvastatin Tablet 80 mg
🔹 1. Prescription / Indication:
Atorvastatin 80 mg is a high-intensity statin used for:
- Very high LDL-C levels (>190 mg/dL)
- Secondary prevention in patients with:
- Recent myocardial infarction (MI)
- Ischemic stroke
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Familial hypercholesterolemia
- Diabetics with high cardiovascular risk
- Post-stent or bypass surgery
✅ Used when lower doses (10–40 mg) do not achieve LDL targets or when a rapid, aggressive lipid-lowering approach is needed.
🔹 2. Description:
- Form: Oral tablet
- Strength: 80 mg atorvastatin calcium
- Appearance: Oval or oblong, white/light yellow tablet (varies by brand)
- Route: Oral
- Usual Dose: Once daily
- Max Effect: Seen in 2–4 weeks
- Prescription Only
🔹 3. Advantages:
- Reduces LDL-C by ≥ 55–60%
- Also lowers:
- Triglycerides
- Total cholesterol
- Increases HDL-C
- Reduces risk of:
- Nonfatal MI
- Stroke
- Unstable angina
- Revascularization procedures
- Cardiovascular mortality
- Slows or reverses atherosclerosis
🔹 4. Nature / Pharmacological Class:
- Class: Statin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor)
- Mechanism:
- Blocks cholesterol synthesis in liver
- Increases LDL receptor activity → clears LDL-C
- Half-life: ~14 hours
- Active metabolites: prolong effect (up to 30 hrs)
- Metabolism: Liver (CYP3A4 enzyme system)
🔹 5. Common Packaging:
- Blister strips: 10 tablets/strip
- HDPE bottles: For hospital or bulk packaging
- Other strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg
🔹 6. Storage:
- Store below 25°C (77°F)
- Protect from light, moisture, and heat
- Store in original packaging
- Keep away from children and pets
🔹 7. Patient Advice / Counseling:
- Take once daily, preferably in the evening
- With or without food
- Avoid grapefruit juice — increases side effects
- Limit alcohol intake
- Common side effects:
- Muscle pain, weakness
- Headache, GI upset
- Serious side effects (rare):
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Liver dysfunction
- Monitor:
- Lipid profile
- Liver function tests (LFTs)
- Creatine kinase (CK) if muscle symptoms occur
- Continue diet and exercise
- Report any signs of muscle pain, dark urine, or jaundice
🔹 8. Purpose / Clinical Use:
- High-intensity cholesterol-lowering therapy
- Prevent:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Atherosclerosis progression
- Essential in:
- Diabetics with heart disease
- Post-CABG or stent
- Chronic kidney disease with CVD risk
- First-line in secondary prevention of cardiovascular events