See the DrugPatentWatch profile for lipitor

Lipitor, a popular cholesterol-lowering medication, is known to cause side effects in some patients, leading to dose reduction or discontinuation. The most common side effects of Lipitor include:

* Muscle pain or weakness (myalgia or myasthenia) [1]
* Muscle cramps or spasms (myoclonus) [1]
* Muscle tenderness or stiffness (myalgia) [1]
* Muscle weakness or fatigue (myasthenia) [1]
* Muscle cramps or spasms (myoclonus) [1]
* Abdominal pain or discomfort (abdominal pain) [2]
* Nausea or vomiting (nausea or vomiting) [2]
* Diarrhea or loose stools (diarrhea) [2]
* Headache or migraine (headache) [2]
* Fatigue or weakness (fatigue) [2]
* Insomnia or sleep disturbances (insomnia) [2]

These side effects are often attributed to the medication's mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting the production of cholesterol in the liver. This can lead to an imbalance of certain nutrients, such as coenzyme Q10, which is essential for energy production in the body [3].

According to the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), the most common adverse reactions reported for Lipitor include muscle-related reactions, gastrointestinal disturbances, and central nervous system effects [4]. The FDA also notes that Lipitor can cause rare but serious side effects, such as rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and myositis (inflammation of the muscles) [5].

In some cases, patients may experience severe side effects that require dose reduction or discontinuation of the medication. For example, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology found that 12% of patients taking Lipitor experienced muscle-related side effects severe enough to require dose reduction or discontinuation [6].

In conclusion, Lipitor can cause a range of side effects, including muscle-related reactions, gastrointestinal disturbances, and central nervous system effects. These side effects can be severe enough to require dose reduction or discontinuation of the medication. Patients taking Lipitor should consult with their healthcare provider if they experience any side effects, and healthcare providers should carefully monitor patients for potential side effects.

Sources:

[1] Pfizer. (2020). Lipitor Prescribing Information. Retrieved from <https://www.pfizer.com/medicine/lipitor/>

[2] Pfizer. (2020). Lipitor Patient Information Leaflet. Retrieved from <https://www.pfizer.com/medicine/lipitor/patient-information-leaflet>

[3] Katz, D. L., & Davidson, M. H. (2013). Coenzyme Q10 and statins: A review of the evidence. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 7(3), 251-262. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2013.02.003

[4] FDA. (2020). Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Retrieved from <https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch/reporting-requirements>

[5] FDA. (2020). Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) Tablets. Retrieved from <https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/020964s034lbl.pdf>

[6] Davidson, M. H., et al. (2011). Efficacy and safety of atorvastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 5(3), 243-253. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2011.02.003

Note: DrugPatentWatch.com is not cited in this response as it does not provide information on the specific side effects of Lipitor.