Atorvastatin Calcium Hydrate Tablets 20 mg

Adult dosage

For the treatment of hyperlipidemia, the recommended initial dose is 10 mg once daily, which may be increased to 20 mg or 40 mg as needed. The medication can be administered within a dose range of 10 to 80 mg once daily, individualized based on treatment goals and patient response. Lipid levels should be analyzed within 2 to 4 weeks after starting treatment to adjust the dose. The treatment goal is to reduce LDL cholesterol levels, and it is recommended to monitor LDL cholesterol levels for evaluation of treatment response. However, if LDL cholesterol levels cannot be assessed, total cholesterol levels may be used for response monitoring. For patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, the dose of this medication is 10 to 80 mg once daily, either in conjunction with other lipid-lowering therapies (e.g., LDL apheresis) or when these therapies are not possible.

Children's dosage

For pediatric patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (ages 10 to 17), the recommended initial dose is 10 mg once daily, and the maximum dose is 20 mg once daily. Doses should be adjusted according to treatment goals at intervals of 4 weeks or longer.

This medication may pose a risk of muscle problems; therefore, if you experience severe muscle pain or weakness or a significant increase in creatine kinase levels, you should stop taking it immediately. This medication should not be used in patients with specific liver diseases or severely impaired liver function, muscle diseases, pregnant or potentially pregnant women, breastfeeding women, or children under 10 years of age. Patients with a history of alcohol abuse or liver disease, poor kidney function, hypothyroidism, the elderly, or others at high risk of myopathy should consult their doctor before using and exercise caution. While this medication is generally well tolerated, side effects such as headache, myalgia, dyspepsia, fatigue, and rash may occur, so consult your doctor if symptoms persist. Regular liver function tests should be performed as this medication may affect liver function, and if symptoms of hepatitis (nausea, vomiting, fatigue, etc.) arise, inform your doctor immediately. This drug may interact with several medications that can affect its blood concentration, so inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other drugs. Particular caution is required when taken with certain antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, immunosuppressants, and grapefruit juice. While taking this medication, proper contraceptive methods should be used to avoid pregnancy, and it should not be taken during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Elderly patients or those with kidney impairment are at increased risk of myopathy and should exercise extra caution while taking this medication and report any unusual symptoms immediately. There is no specific antidote in case of overdose; treatment should be symptomatic and periodic monitoring of liver function and muscle status is necessary. This medication should be stored out of reach of children and kept in its original container for safety.

Serious side effects

Hives, severe swelling (edema), chest tightness, difficulty breathing, cold sweat, pallor, severe rash with high fever, blisters, skin peeling, pain in the mucous membranes of the mouth/eyes, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, asthma attacks, respiratory distress with cough + fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), extreme lethargy, sudden and severe headache, thunderclap headache, seizures, confusion, visual disturbances, paralysis, urination changes

Mild side effects

• Weakness
• fatigue
• chest pain
• peripheral edema
• tiredness
• fever
• nasopharyngitis
• hyperglycemia
• hypoglycemia
• weight gain

This medication should be stored in a tightly closed container to protect it from air and moisture, and it is recommended to keep it at a temperature between 1 to 30 degrees Celsius. Proper storage will help maintain the drug's effectiveness for a longer period.

Appearance

White round film-coated tablets

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 100 tablets/bottle