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Cholesterol is a type of fat present in your blood. Total cholesterol is determined by the total amount of LDL and HDL cholesterol in the body. LDL cholesterol is called “bad” cholesterol. Bad cholesterol can build up in the wall of your blood vessels and slow or obstruct blood flow to your heart, brain, and other organs. This can cause heart disease and stroke. HDL cholesterol is called “good” cholesterol as it prevents the bad cholesterol from building up in the blood vessels. High levels of triglycerides are also harmful to you.

Atorvastatin belongs to a group of medicines known as statins, which lowers the level of lipids or fats. Atorvastatin is used to lower lipids known as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood when a low-fat diet and lifestyle changes fail to lower the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. If you are at an increased risk of heart disease, Atorvastatin can also be used to reduce such risk even if your cholesterol levels are normal. You should maintain a standard cholesterol-lowering diet during treatment.

If you are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, taking Atorvastatin may increase this risk slightly. This is because Atorvastatin can raise your blood sugar a little. If you already have type 2 diabetes, your doctor may advise monitoring your blood sugar levels more closely for the first few months. Tell your doctor if you find it harder to control your blood sugar.

You may need to take Atorvastatin life long or for the duration prescribed by your doctor. The benefits will only continue for as long as you take it. If you stop taking Atorvastatin without starting a different treatment, your cholesterol levels may rise again. It is considered to be safe and has few side effects if taken as directed by the doctor.

No, Atorvastatin has not been reported to cause weight loss. However, weight gain has been reported as an uncommon side effect. Please consult your doctor if you experience weight loss while taking Atorvastatin.

No, you should not stop taking Atorvastatin without consulting your doctor. If you think that Atorvastatin is causing side effects, you should consult your doctor who may accordingly lower your dose or change your medicine.

Memory loss may occur with Atorvastatin in very rare cases. This is generally non-serious and may occur as early as 1 day or may take years to appear. These symptoms may disappear within about 3 weeks of discontinuing Atorvastatin. However, you should consult your doctor if you experience this side effect as it could be due to some other reason.

Atorvastatin is generally taken once a day. It can be taken in the morning or night or at any time of the day, with or without food. Try taking this medicine at the same time every day to help remember when to take it.

The common side effects of Atorvastatin include nausea, indigestion, constipation, flatulence, diarrhea, headache, and aches and pains in your back and joints. It may also cause nosebleeds, sore throat, and cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, blocked nose, or sneezing.

Yes, Atorvastatin can make you feel tired. This is because they reduce the energy supply to the muscles in the body. However, the exact reason behind the phenomenon is unknown and needs more research. Tiredness usually occurs after exertion. Generalized fatigue is more often seen in people with heart disease or those suffering from liver illness. Atorvastatin also causes muscle damage which further worsens the tiredness. Therefore, you must consult your doctor if you feel tired while taking Atorvastatin.

No, it is not advised to take alcohol with Atorvastatin. This is because the risk of developing liver problems increases if you drink alcohol while taking this medicine. Moreover, there is a significant increase in the triglyceride levels if Atorvastatin is taken along with alcohol. This can further lead to liver damage and also worsen some of the side effects such as muscle pain, muscle weakness, and tenderness. People with liver problems are therefore advised, not to take Atorvastatin without consulting the doctor. They should also refrain from consuming alcohol while taking this medicine to get maximum benefit.

No, Atorvastatin is not a blood thinner. It is a cholesterol-lowering medicine. It works by slowing down the production of cholesterol in the body. This further decreases the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the part of the body. By lowering the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides it prevents the chances of stroke and heart attack.

Yes, taking Atorvastatin can cause muscle problems or muscle injury. This is because of the reduced oxygen supply to the muscle cells which leads to fatigue, muscle pain, tenderness, or muscle weakness. The soreness may be significant enough to interfere with your daily activities. Do not take it lightly and consult your doctor to know about ways to prevent this and to avoid making it worse.

Atorvastatin is for adults and children aged 10 years or more whose cholesterol levels do not come down enough with exercise and a low-fat diet. It is not approved for use in patients younger than 10 years old.

No, Ezetimibe is not a blood thinner. It belongs to cholesterol-lowering group of medicines. It is a medicine which is used along with lifestyle changes to reduce cholesterol levels and other fatty substances in the blood.

Since Ezetimibe is meant to decrease blood cholesterol levels, for best results avoid foods which are high in calories like chips, burgers, fried food, etc. Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietician.

Ezetimibe, when used with another cholesterol-lowering medicine (statin), may commonly cause an increase in liver enzymes. However, if it is used alone, then chances of increase in liver enzymes are uncommon. Your doctor will get blood tests done to check your liver function before starting and during treatment with Ezetimibe.

You can take Ezetimibe at anytime of the day. Take it exactly as advised by your doctor. You can take it with or without food.

You should avoid alcohol while taking Ezetimibe since it may increase your risk of getting side effects in the liver. Discuss with your doctor if you have any concerns.

Muscle pain may occur when Ezetimibe is used with a statin. It usually does not occur when Ezetimibe is used alone. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain or weakness. This is because on rare occasions, muscle problems, including muscle breakdown which may result in kidney damage can be serious and may become a potentially fatal condition.

No, Ezetimibe does not raise blood sugar levels. In fact, it may be helpful for patients with diabetes since it helps in improving insulin resistance and also kidney function. Ezetimibe has not been shown to have any direct effect on blood sugar levels.