Atorvastatin warnings and precautions: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
mNo edit summary
No edit summary
Line 3: Line 3:
{{CMG}} ; {{AE}} , {{PB}}
{{CMG}} ; {{AE}} , {{PB}}


==WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS==


Skeletal muscle effects (e.g., [[myopathy]] and [[rhabdomyolysis]]): Risks increase when higher doses are used concomitantly with [[cyclosporine]] and strong [[CYP3A4]] inhibitors (e.g., [[clarithromycin]], [[itraconazole]], HIV [[protease inhibitor]]s). Predisposing factors include advanced age (> 65), uncontrolled [[hypothyroidism]], and renal impairment.
===Skeletal Muscle===


Rare cases of [[rhabdomyolysis]] with [[acute renal failure]] secondary to [[myoglobinuria]] have been reported. Advise patients to promptly report to their physician unexplained and/or persistent muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. atorvastatin therapy should be discontinued if [[myopathy]] is diagnosed or suspected.
Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria have been reported with atorvastatin and with other drugs in this class. A history of renal impairment may be a risk factor for the development of [[rhabdomyolysis]]. Such patients merit closer monitoring for skeletal muscle effects.


Liver enzyme abnormalities: Persistent elevations in hepatic [[transaminase]]s can occur. Check liver enzyme tests before initiating therapy and as clinically indicated thereafter.
[[Atorvastatin]], like other statins, occasionally causes myopathy, defined as muscle aches or muscle weakness in conjunction with increases in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values >10 times ULN. The concomitant use of higher doses of atorvastatin with certain drugs such as cyclosporine and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., [[clarithromycin]], [[itraconazole]], and HIV protease inhibitors) increases the risk of [[myopathy]]/[[rhabdomyolysis]].
 
There have been rare reports of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), an autoimmune [[myopathy]], associated with statin use. IMNM is characterized by: proximal muscle weakness and elevated serum creatine kinase, which persist despite discontinuation of statin treatment; muscle biopsy showing necrotizing myopathy without significant inflammation; improvement with immunosuppressive agents.
 
[[Myopathy]] should be considered in any patient with diffuse myalgias, muscle tenderness or weakness, and/or marked elevation of [[CPK]]. Patients should be advised to report promptly unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever or if muscle signs and symptoms persist after discontinuing atorvastatin. atorvastatin therapy should be discontinued if markedly elevated CPK levels occur or [[myopathy]] is diagnosed or suspected.
 
The risk of [[myopathy]] during treatment with drugs in this class is increased with concurrent administration of [[cyclosporine]], fibric acid derivatives, [[erythromycin]], [[clarithromycin]], the [[hepatitis C]] protease inhibitor [[telaprevir]], combinations of HIV protease inhibitors, including [[saquinavir]] plus [[ritonavir]], [[lopinavir]] plus [[ritonavir]], [[tipranavir]] plus [[ritonavir]], [[darunavir]]plus [[ritonavir]], [[fosamprenavir]], and [[fosamprenavir]] plus [[ritonavir]], [[niacin]], or [[azole]] antifungals. Physicians considering combined therapy with atorvastatin and fibric acid derivatives, [[erythromycin]], [[clarithromycin]], a combination of [[saquinavir]] plus [[ritonavir]], [[lopinavir]] plus ritonavir, [[darunavir]] plus [[ritonavir]], [[fosamprenavir]], or [[fosamprenavir]] plus [[ritonavir]], azole antifungals, or lipid-modifying doses of [[niacin]]should carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks and should carefully monitor patients for any signs or symptoms of muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly during the initial months of therapy and during any periods of upward dosage titration of either drug. Lower starting and maintenance doses of atorvastatin should be considered when taken concomitantly with the aforementioned drugs (see Drug Interactions (7)). Periodic [[creatine phosphokinase]] (CPK) determinations may be considered in such situations, but there is no assurance that such monitoring will prevent the occurrence of severe myopathy.<ref name="dailymed.nlm.nih.gov">{{Cite web  | last =  | first =  | title = atorvastatin (ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM) TABLET, FILM COATED [PARKE-DAVIS DIV OF PFIZER INC] | url = http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=c6e131fe-e7df-4876-83f7-9156fc4e8228#nlm34089-3 | publisher =  | date =  | accessdate = }}</ref> =


A higher incidence of [[hemorrhagic stroke]] was seen in patients without [[CHD]] but with [[stroke]] or [[TIA]] within the previous 6 months in the atorvastatin 80 mg group vs placebo.<ref name="dailymed.nlm.nih.gov">{{Cite web  | last =  | first =  | title = LIPITOR (ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM) TABLET, FILM COATED [PARKE-DAVIS DIV OF PFIZER INC] | url = http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=c6e131fe-e7df-4876-83f7-9156fc4e8228#nlm34089-3 | publisher =  | date =  | accessdate = }}</ref>





Revision as of 16:43, 1 February 2014

Atorvastatin
Lipitor® FDA Package Insert
Indications and Usage
Dosage and Administration
Dosage Forms and Strengths
Contraindications
Warnings and Precautions
Adverse Reactions
Drug Interactions
Use in Specific Populations
Overdosage
Description
Clinical Pharmacology
Nonclinical Toxicology
Clinical Studies
How Supplied/Storage and Handling
Patient Counseling Information
Labels and Packages
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: , Pratik Bahekar, MBBS [2]

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Skeletal Muscle

Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria have been reported with atorvastatin and with other drugs in this class. A history of renal impairment may be a risk factor for the development of rhabdomyolysis. Such patients merit closer monitoring for skeletal muscle effects.

Atorvastatin, like other statins, occasionally causes myopathy, defined as muscle aches or muscle weakness in conjunction with increases in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values >10 times ULN. The concomitant use of higher doses of atorvastatin with certain drugs such as cyclosporine and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., clarithromycin, itraconazole, and HIV protease inhibitors) increases the risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis.

There have been rare reports of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), an autoimmune myopathy, associated with statin use. IMNM is characterized by: proximal muscle weakness and elevated serum creatine kinase, which persist despite discontinuation of statin treatment; muscle biopsy showing necrotizing myopathy without significant inflammation; improvement with immunosuppressive agents.

Myopathy should be considered in any patient with diffuse myalgias, muscle tenderness or weakness, and/or marked elevation of CPK. Patients should be advised to report promptly unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever or if muscle signs and symptoms persist after discontinuing atorvastatin. atorvastatin therapy should be discontinued if markedly elevated CPK levels occur or myopathy is diagnosed or suspected.

The risk of myopathy during treatment with drugs in this class is increased with concurrent administration of cyclosporine, fibric acid derivatives, erythromycin, clarithromycin, the hepatitis C protease inhibitor telaprevir, combinations of HIV protease inhibitors, including saquinavir plus ritonavir, lopinavir plus ritonavir, tipranavir plus ritonavir, darunavirplus ritonavir, fosamprenavir, and fosamprenavir plus ritonavir, niacin, or azole antifungals. Physicians considering combined therapy with atorvastatin and fibric acid derivatives, erythromycin, clarithromycin, a combination of saquinavir plus ritonavir, lopinavir plus ritonavir, darunavir plus ritonavir, fosamprenavir, or fosamprenavir plus ritonavir, azole antifungals, or lipid-modifying doses of niacinshould carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks and should carefully monitor patients for any signs or symptoms of muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly during the initial months of therapy and during any periods of upward dosage titration of either drug. Lower starting and maintenance doses of atorvastatin should be considered when taken concomitantly with the aforementioned drugs (see Drug Interactions (7)). Periodic creatine phosphokinase (CPK) determinations may be considered in such situations, but there is no assurance that such monitoring will prevent the occurrence of severe myopathy.[1] =


References

  1. "atorvastatin (ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM) TABLET, FILM COATED [PARKE-DAVIS DIV OF PFIZER INC]".

Adapted from the FDA Package Insert.