{"id":48243,"date":"2022-02-01T09:30:50","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T14:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=48243"},"modified":"2025-09-12T12:35:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T16:35:19","slug":"lipitor-facts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/lipitor-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"13 things you might not know about Lipitor"},"content":{"rendered":"

A <\/span>healthy diet<\/span><\/a> and exercise are important for heart health\u2014partially because they help keep cholesterol levels in check. But, for some people, lifestyle changes aren\u2019t enough. <\/span>Medication<\/span> may be necessary to avoid heart disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

Statins are among the most common medications prescribed to lower cholesterol. This <\/span>class of medication<\/span><\/a> helps to decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also known as bad cholesterol) and triglycerides in your blood. At the same time, statins increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (aka good cholesterol). Statins work by blocking a substance the liver needs to make cholesterol. Lipitor is a statin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>What is Lipitor used for?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

13 Lipitor facts to know before taking your Rx<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now that you know the basics, here are some facts about Lipitor.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Lipitor is the most prescribed statin<\/span><\/h3>\n

Lipitor (<\/span>atorvastatin) is a type of statin. More than <\/span>200 million people<\/span><\/a> worldwide take statins, with Lipitor being the <\/span>most prescribed type<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Lipitor is easy to fit into your schedule<\/span><\/h3>\n

Short-acting statins (that have a half-life of less than six hours) <\/span>should be taken at night<\/span><\/a> because cholesterol production is thought to be highest while you sleep. Because Lipitor is a long-acting statin, with a half-life of 14 hours, you can take it whenever you want\u2014as long as you pick the same time each day. Lipitor is typically taken <\/span>once per day<\/span><\/a> in pill form. Lipitor dosages range from 10 mg to 80 mg.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome people choose to take it at night because it\u2019s easier to remember to take it then,\u201d says <\/span>Pri Hennis<\/span><\/a>, MD, physician with the <\/span>U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/span><\/a> in Phoenix, Arizona. \u201cIf you have problems sleeping [from Lipitor], consider taking it in the daytime instead.\u201d Follow your healthcare provider\u2019s directions, and check with them before making changes or stopping your medication.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Lipitor can reduce LDL-C by up to 60%<\/span><\/h3>\n

Statins have been prescribed for a long time, so there\u2019s a lot of data showing they have a good safety profile. Lipitor has been <\/span>FDA-approved since 1996<\/span><\/a>. This means Lipitor <\/span>works well<\/span><\/a>, and is well-tolerated by most people. For those who do experience Lipitor <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a>, some of the more common ones include:<\/span><\/p>\n