{"id":631879,"date":"2025-04-09T17:53:58","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T21:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631879"},"modified":"2026-04-09T16:19:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T20:19:50","slug":"atorvastatin-side-effects-in-elderly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/atorvastatin-side-effects-in-elderly\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the side effects of atorvastatin for older adults?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Atorvastatin<\/span><\/a>, a medication in the <\/span>statin drug class<\/span><\/a>, is prescribed to treat <\/span>high cholesterol levels<\/span><\/a>. Lipitor is the brand-name version of atorvastatin, which blocks the enzyme needed to make low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (aka \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol) in the liver. Since <\/span>high cholesterol<\/span><\/a> can cause heart attacks and strokes, and the risk of heart disease increases as people age, older adults may be more likely to need lipid-lowering agents like atorvastatin. Although atorvastatin is among the <\/span>best statins for elderly patients<\/span><\/a>, there are interactions and <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a> to be aware of.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\u00a0 \u00a0Most common side effects of atorvastatin<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Side effect<\/b><\/td>\nPercentage of participants who reported the side effect in clinical trials<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nasopharyngitis (the common cold)<\/span><\/td>\n8.3%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arthralgia (joint stiffness) and joint pain<\/span><\/td>\n6.9%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diarrhea<\/span><\/td>\n6.8%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pain in extremities\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n6%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Urinary tract infections<\/span><\/td>\n5.7%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dyspepsia (indigestion)<\/span><\/td>\n4.7%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nausea<\/span><\/td>\n4%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Musculoskeletal pain<\/span><\/td>\n3.8%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Muscle spasms\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n3.6%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Myalgia (muscle aches)<\/span><\/td>\n3.5%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Insomnia<\/span><\/td>\n3%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pharyngolaryngeal (voice and throat) pain<\/span><\/td>\n2.3%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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\u201cIn clinical trials, side effects from statins are relatively infrequent; however, in clinical practice, side effects are more common, especially muscle-related side effects,\u201d says <\/span>Edo Paz<\/span><\/a>, MD, the SVP of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart, who is board-certified in cardiology, internal medicine, echocardiography, and nuclear cardiology.<\/span><\/p>\n

Side effects of atorvastatin in older adults<\/span><\/h2>\n

Older adults may be more susceptible to some of the most common <\/span>side effects of statins<\/span><\/a>, including atorvastatin.<\/span><\/p>\n