The NHS has issued a warning to patients taking atorvastatin, a commonly prescribed statin, about potential serious side effects including muscle damage. The health service advises patients to be cautious when combining the drug with other medications and to seek immediate medical help if certain symptoms occur.
What Is Atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin is a type of statin used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. It is routinely prescribed to patients with elevated blood cholesterol to reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. Doctors may also recommend it for individuals with a family history of heart disease or long-term conditions such as type 1 or type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
NHS Guidance on Combining Medications
According to the NHS website, there are several cautions regarding other medicines. The NHS states: "Some medicines can affect the way atorvastatin works and can increase the chances of you having serious side effects, such as muscle damage." Patients must inform their doctor or pharmacist if they are taking any of the following: antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, rifampicin, or fusidic acid; antifungals like ketoconazole, voriconazole, or fluconazole; some HIV medicines; some hepatitis C medicines; warfarin; ciclosporin; colchicine; contraceptive pills; verapamil, diltiazem, or amlodipine; and amiodarone.
If a patient needs to take one of these medicines alongside atorvastatin, the doctor may prescribe a lower dose of atorvastatin, prescribe a different statin, or recommend temporarily stopping atorvastatin. The NHS advises checking the leaflet inside the medicine packet or consulting a pharmacist for a full list of interactions. Patients should also speak with a doctor or pharmacist before taking St John's wort supplements or CoQ10.
Common Side Effects
Common side effects, occurring in more than 1 in 100 people, include nausea or indigestion, headaches, nosebleeds, sore throat, cold-like symptoms, constipation, flatulence, and diarrhoea. The NHS warns that drinking a lot of alcohol regularly increases the chance of side effects and liver problems. Patients experiencing side effects should talk to their doctor before stopping the medication, as the symptoms may be caused by another problem.
Serious Side Effects: When to Call 111
The NHS advises patients to stop taking atorvastatin and contact a doctor or call 111 immediately if they experience: unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps (signs of muscle breakdown and kidney damage); yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, pale poo, or dark pee (signs of liver problems); a skin rash with pink or red blotches, especially on palms or soles (possible erythema multiforme); severe stomach pain (possible acute pancreatitis); cough, shortness of breath, and weight loss (possible lung disease); or weakness in arms or legs that worsens after activity, double vision, drooping eyelids, problems swallowing, or shortness of breath (possible myasthenia gravis).
