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Atorvastatin

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Atorvastatin (brand name Lipitor[1][2][3]) is a drug in the statin class.

Atorvastatin
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It is used for prophylaxis (prevention) of heart problems called cardiovascular disease and to fix abnormal lipid levels,[4][5] for example when there is too much cholesterol.

It is also sometimes given for prophylaxis in strokes and chest pain.[5] It may also be prescribed for people with a family history of heart disease, or a long-term health condition such as type 1 or type 2 diabetes and also rheumatoid arthritis.[5] It has been studied in the prevention or treatment of some types of cancer.[3]

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[6]

It has a "dual mechanism" or double effect[verification needed] which complements one-another. Firstly it works by stopping HMG-CoA (hydroxymethyl-glutaryl coenzyme A), and fully inhibiting or stopping it by targeting an enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) which helps in a key step in the body making LDL cholesterol (low-density lipid cholesterol or "bad cholesterol") so that the body makes less cholesterol[7]. Second, it increases the number of LDL receptors on hepatic (liver) cell surfaces, and enhances or makes better the uptake and use (catabolism) of LDL and reducing LDL production and the number of LDL particles.[7] Doing this, it lowers plasma (blood) cholesterol and lipoprotein levels. Like other statins, it might sometimes show direct angioplastic activity (changing the physical characteristics of the blood vessels, such as arteries) by stopping cells in (G1 phase of) their life cycle.[7]

Atorvastatin was first synthesized (made) in 1985 by Dr. Bruce Roth and approved by the FDA in 1996[8] and patented by Pfizer. In 2021, it was the most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 116 million prescriptions filled for over 28 million patients.[9]

The patent for atorvastatin (held by Pfizer) expired in 2011. Atorvastatin calcium is the calcium salt version of the drug. The medication is available as a generic drug.[10][11]

In other countries, atorvastatin calcium is made as tablets by generic medication makers. Pfizer also makes its own generic version under the name Zarator.[12] In addition to Lipitor it is sold under the names: Atoris, Atorlip, Atorva, Atorvastatin Teva, Atorvastatina Parke-Davis, Avas, Cardyl, Liprimar, Litorva, Mactor, Orbeos, Prevencor, Sortis, Stator, Tahor, Torid, Torvacard, Torvast, Totalip, Tulip, Xarator.[13][14]

In the US, Lipitor is marketed by Viatris after Upjohn was spun off from Pfizer.[15][16]

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References

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  1. ↑ "Lipitor (Atorvastatin) - FDA" (PDF). FDA.gov.
  2. ↑ "Atorvastatin: a medicine to treat high blood cholestesterol". nhs.uk. 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  3. 1 2 "https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/atorvastatin-calcium". www.cancer.gov. 2011-02-02. Retrieved 2025-10-18. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  4. ↑ "Atorvastatin". Drugs.com. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 "About atorvastatin". nhs.uk. 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  6. ↑ Organization, World Health (2021). "World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021)". WHO. Archived from the original on 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  7. 1 2 3 "https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/atorvastatin-calcium". www.cancer.gov. 2011-02-02. Retrieved 2025-10-18. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  8. ↑ PubChem. "Atorvastatin". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  9. ↑ "The Top 300 of 2021". clincalc.com. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  10. ↑ Top 100 Drugs. Elsevier Health Services. 30 March 2014. ISBN 9780702055157. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  11. ↑ Hitchings, Andrew; Lonsdale, Dagan; Burrage, Daniel; Baker, Emma (2014-03-30). The Top 100 Drugs e-book: Clinical Pharmacology and Practical Prescribing. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 978-0-7020-5515-7.
  12. ↑ Rapley L (31 May 2012). "Atorvastatin sole funding announced". PharmacyToday.co.nz. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "Atorvastatin international". Drugs.com. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  14. ↑ "Lipitor referral". European Medicines Agency (EMA). 24 September 2010. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  15. ↑ "Pfizer Completes Transaction to Combine Its Upjohn Business with Mylan". Pfizer. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via Business Wire.
  16. ↑ "Lipitor". Pfizer. Retrieved 17 June 2024.


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