Comprimidos de atorvastatina

About atorvastatin

Lipids, or fats, are easily stored in your body and serve as a source of energy. Colesterol is a type of lipid that is made in your liver from the fatty foods that you eat. When the concentration of cholesterol in your blood is too high, it is called hypercholesterolaemia. Although a high level of cholesterol will not make you feel ill, it can cause a problem if left untreated.

People with hipercolesterolemia can develop small fatty patches called ateromas. Essas placas se desenvolvem quando o excesso de gordura é depositado nas paredes dos vasos sanguíneos. Com o tempo, essas placas podem estreitar um vaso sanguíneo e isso é chamado de aterosclerose (às vezes referido como 'endurecimento das artérias'). O estreitamento reduz o fluxo sanguíneo através da artéria e aumenta o risco de várias doenças do coração e dos vasos sanguíneos, como ataque cardíaco e derrame.

Atorvastatin belongs to a group of medicines known as statins (or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors). It reduces the amount of cholesterol made by your body. It does this by blocking the action of a certain enzyme which is needed to make cholesterol. This lowers your risk of heart and blood vessel disease. Atorvastatin can also reduce the risk of heart disease in people who have an increased risk of it, even if their cholesterol levels are normal.

Before taking atorvastatin

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking atorvastatin it is important that your doctor knows:

• Se você está grávida, tentando ter um bebê ou amamentando.

• Se você tiver algum problema com o funcionamento do seu fígado, ou se já teve alguma doença que afetou seu fígado.

• Se você tem uma condição que causa fraqueza muscular, chamada miastenia gravis.

• If you have a problem with unexplained muscle aches or pains.

• Se você consome grandes quantidades de álcool regularmente.

• Se você tem uma glândula tireoide hipoativa.

• If you have previously had a stroke caused by bleeding into your brain.

• Se você já teve uma reação alérgica a um medicamento.

• Se você estiver tomando outros medicamentos. Isso inclui quaisquer medicamentos que você esteja tomando e que estejam disponíveis para compra sem receita médica, bem como medicamentos fitoterápicos e complementares.

How to take atorvastatin

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about atorvastatin and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take atorvastatin once each day. There are several strengths of tablet available, so your doctor will tell you which strength is right for you.

• You can generally take atorvastatin at a time of day to suit you, but it is best to take your doses at the same time of day each day. You can take the tablets either before or after food.

• If you have been given atorvastatin chewable tablets, you can chew the tablets to help you swallow, or you can swallow them whole with a drink of water.

• Se você esquecer de tomar uma dose, tome-a assim que se lembrar. Se não se lembrar até o dia seguinte, pule a dose esquecida. Não tome duas doses juntas para compensar uma dose esquecida.

Obtendo o máximo do seu tratamento

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so that your doctor can check on your progress. You will need to have blood tests from time to time. These are to measure your cholesterol level and also to check that your liver has not been affected by taking atorvastatin.

• Seu médico lhe dará conselhos sobre como manter uma dieta saudável, reduzir a quantidade de álcool que você normalmente consome, diminuir a quantidade de sal na sua dieta, parar de fumar e fazer exercícios regularmente. Seguir esses conselhos também ajudará a reduzir o risco de desenvolver doenças cardíacas e vasculares.

• Do not drink more than one or two small glasses of grapefruit juice a day. This is because a chemical in grapefruit juice can increase the amount of atorvastatin in your bloodstream, which can make side-effects more likely.

• Women taking atorvastatin must avoid getting pregnant. Make sure you have discussed with your doctor which types of contraception are suitable for you and your partner.

• Treatment with atorvastatin is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

Can atorvastatin cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with atorvastatin, although these tend to be mild. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. Unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Se você sentir quaisquer outros sintomas que acha que podem ser causados pelos comprimidos, fale com seu médico ou farmacêutico para mais orientações.

How to store atorvastatin

• Mantenha todos os medicamentos fora do alcance e da vista das crianças.

• Armazene em local fresco e seco, longe de calor e luz diretos.
  

Informações importantes sobre todos os medicamentos