Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Lipitor (Atorvastatin). If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Lipitor (Atorvastatin) with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin). Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• gas
• headache
• nausea
• rash
• sexual problems
• stomach pain
• trouble sleeping
• vomiting

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• confusion
• cough, shortness of breath, Fever
• memory loss
• signs of Depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)
• symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g., frequent urination, increased thirst, excessive eating, unexplained weight loss, poor wound healing, infections, fruity breath odour)
• symptoms of liver damage (such as yellow skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, or itching)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• symptoms of muscle damage (unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, or brown or discoloured urine – especially if you also have a fever or a general feeling of being unwell)
• symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as swelling of the face or throat, Hives, or difficulty breathing

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin).

10 mg
Each white, elliptical, film-coated tablet, embossed with "10" on one side and "PD 155" on the other, contains Lipitor (Atorvastatin) 10 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: calcium carbonate, candelilla wax, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, talc, titanium dioxide, polysorbate 80, and simethicone emulsion.

20 mg
Each white, elliptical, film-coated tablet, embossed with "20" on one side and "PD 156" on the other, contains Lipitor (Atorvastatin) 20 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: calcium carbonate, candelilla wax, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, talc, titanium dioxide, polysorbate 80, and simethicone emulsion.

40 mg
Each white, elliptical, film-coated tablet, embossed with "40" on one side and "PD 157" on the other, contains Lipitor (Atorvastatin) 40 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: calcium carbonate, candelilla wax, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, talc, titanium dioxide, polysorbate 80, and simethicone emulsion.

80 mg
Each white, elliptical, film-coated tablet, embossed with "80" on one side and "PD 158" on the other, contains Lipitor (Atorvastatin) 80 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: calcium carbonate, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, talc, titanium dioxide, polysorbate 80, and simethicone emulsion.

Do not take Lipitor (Atorvastatin) if you:

• are allergic to Lipitor (Atorvastatin) or any ingredients of the medication
• are breast-feeding
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• have active liver disease or unexplained increases in liver function tests
• are taking the medication glecaprevir/pibrentasvir

There may be an interaction between Lipitor (Atorvastatin) and any of the following:

• Aliskiren
• Amiodarone
• antacids (e.g., aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide)
• Apalutamide
• "azole" antifungal medications (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• Bicalutamide
• Bosentan
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• cancer medications (e.g., Daunorubicin, Doxorubicin, Etoposide, Methotrexate, Mitotane, Paclitaxel, Temsirolimus, Vinblastine, Vincristine)
• Carbamazepine
• Carvedilol
• Cholestyramine
• Cobicistat
• colchicines
• conivaptan
• Cyclosporine
• Cyproterone
• dabigatran
• Danazol
• daptomycin
• Deferasirox
• Dexamethasone
• Digoxin
• Dipyridamole
• dofetilide
• Dronedarone
• Eltrombopag
• Enzalutamide
• fibrates (e.g., Bezafibrate, gemfibrozil, fenofibrate)
• "gliptin" diabetes medications (e.g., Linagliptin, Saxagliptin, Sitagliptin)
• grapefruit juice
• Hepatitis C antivirals (e.g., daclatasvir, grazoprevir, ledipasvir, velpatasvir)  
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• lumacaftor
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin,)
• midazolam
• mifepristone
• Modafinil
• Nadolol
• niacin (nicotinic acid)
• niacinamide
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• primidone
• quinidine
• quinine
• raltegravir
• Repaglinide
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• St. John's wort
• siltuximab
• Spironolactone
• other "statin" anti-cholesterol medications (e.g., lovastatin, simvastatin)
• Tacrolimus
• tenofovir
• Ticagrelor
• Tocilizumab
• Tolvaptan
• tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., Crizotinib, imatinib, Lapatinib, Nilotinib, Sunitinib)

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Lipitor (Atorvastatin). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Lipitor (Atorvastatin).

Alcohol: People who drink large quantities of alcohol should be closely monitored by their doctor while they are taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin).

Cardiovascular: There is an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke if Lipitor (Atorvastatin) is started within 6 months of having a stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). If you have a history of stroke or have had a recent stroke, discuss with your doctor how Lipitor (Atorvastatin) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Lipitor (Atorvastatin), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Diabetes: Lipitor (Atorvastatin) may cause an increase in blood sugar levels and glucose tolerance may change. People with diabetes may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar more frequently while using Lipitor (Atorvastatin).

If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, discuss with your doctor how Lipitor (Atorvastatin) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Lipitor (Atorvastatin), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Diet: Lipitor (Atorvastatin) is not intended to be used alone to reduce high cholesterol levels. It is important that a cholesterol-reducing diet along with appropriate exercise be attempted before taking any medication and continued while taking medication.

Grapefruit juice: Taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin) and consuming grapefruit juice may result in an increased amount of Lipitor (Atorvastatin) in the body, and lead to side effects. If you regularly drink grapefruit juice, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether you should change your diet.

Kidney function: If you have decreased kidney function or a history of Kidney Disease, you may be at an increased risk of developing muscle effects while taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin). The lowest effective dose of Lipitor (Atorvastatin) should be used and your doctor should follow you closely. If you have kidney problems, discuss with your doctor how Lipitor (Atorvastatin) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Lipitor (Atorvastatin), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: Lipitor (Atorvastatin) may reduce liver function and can cause liver failure. Lipitor (Atorvastatin) should not be used by people with active liver disease or by people whose liver function tests are higher than normal. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Lipitor (Atorvastatin) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Lipitor (Atorvastatin), and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin).

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Muscle effects: In rare cases, serious muscle pain, cramps, and weakness have been associated with the use of statin medications (i.e., cholesterol-lowering medications whose names end in "statin," such as Lipitor (Atorvastatin), Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin, or Simvastatin), especially at higher doses. Before taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin), tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• have kidney or liver problems
• are taking Niacin or a fibrate medication (such as Gemfibrozil, Fenofibrate)
• have an underactive Thyroid gland (Hypothyroidism)
• regularly drink more than 3 alcoholic drinks per day
• have had any past problems with muscles (pain, tenderness) after taking a statin such as Lipitor (Atorvastatin), fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, or simvastatin
• have a personal or family history of inherited muscle problems
• are more than 65 years old
• have undergone surgery or suffered any traumatic injury
• are frail
• do excessive physical exercise
• have diabetes

Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps, or any brown or discoloured urine to your doctor immediately, particularly if you are also experiencing malaise (a general feeling of being unwell) or fever.

Pregnancy: Cholesterol is necessary for the development of an unborn baby. Taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin) during pregnancy reduces the amount of cholesterol reaching the developing baby and may cause harm to the baby. Lipitor (Atorvastatin) should not be taken by pregnant women. If you become pregnant while taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin), stop taking it immediately and contact your doctor.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if Lipitor (Atorvastatin) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin), it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: There is limited experience with the use of Lipitor (Atorvastatin) by children. Lipitor (Atorvastatin) has only been studied for use by children aged 10 to 17 years who have inherited cholesterol disorders (also known as familial hypercholesterolemia).

Seniors: If you are more than 70 years old, you may experience more side effects. Your doctor will monitor you closely while you are taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin).