What is Ativan?

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Ativan (lorazepam) belongs to a group of drugs called
benzodiazepines. Lorazepam affects chemicals in the
brain that may be unbalanced in people with anxiety.
Ativan is used to treat anxiety disorders.
Ativan may also be used for purposes not listed in
this medication guide.
Important information
You should not use Ativan if you have narrow-angle
glaucoma or myasthenia gravis, or if you are allergic
to Valium or a similar medicine.
Do not use lorazepam if you are pregnant. This
medicine can cause birth defects or life-threatening
withdrawal symptoms in a newborn.

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Lorazepam may be habit-forming and should be used
only by the person it was prescribed for. Misuse of
habit-forming medicine can cause addiction,
overdose, or death. Ativan should never be shared
with another person, especially someone who has a
history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the
medication in a secure place where others cannot get
to it.
Do not drink alcohol while taking Ativan. Lorazepam
can increase the effects of
Studies have demonstrated that treatment with
atorvastatin is associated with significant reductions
in the risk of cardiovascular endpoints and stroke in
various patient populations for both primary and
secondary prevention.

For primary prevention, atorvastatin treatment was

effective in hypertensive patients with normal or
mildly elevated cholesterol levels as well as in
patients with type II diabetes. Patients had relatively
low cholesterol levels at baseline in both trials;
however, treatment with this medicine still resulted
in significant reductions in cardiovascular outcomes
and stroke.

For secondary prevention, intensive lipid lowering

therapy with atorvastatin 80 mg/day was associated
with significant incremental clinical benefit beyond
therapy with 10 mg/day in patients with stable
coronary heart disease. It was also shown to
significantly reduce the risk of clinical outcomes in
coronary heart disease patients versus usual medical
care.
Usual Adult Dose for Hyperlipidemia:
Initial dose: 10, 20 or 40 mg orally once a day. The
40 mg starting dose is recommended for patients
who require a reduction in LDL-cholesterol of more
than 45%.

Dose adjustments should be made at intervals of 2 to

4 weeks.

Maintenance dose: 10 to 80 mg orally once a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Heterozygous Familial
Hypercholesterolemia:
10 to 17 years:
10 mg per day (max dose is 20 mg per day).
 Adjustments should be made at intervals of 4 weeks
or more.
What other drugs will affect
atorvastatin?
Certain other drugs can increase your risk of serious
muscle problems, and it is very important that your
doctor knows if you are using any of them. Tell your
doctor about all your current medicines and any you
start or stop using, especially:
antibiotic or antifungal medicine;
birth control pills;
cholesterol-lowering medication;
heart medication; or
medicine to treat HIV or AIDS.
torvastatin side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an
allergic reaction to atorvastatin: hives; difficulty
breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or
throat.
In rare cases, atorvastatin can cause a condition that
results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue,
leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away
if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or
weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual
tiredness, and dark colored urine.
Also call your doctor at once if you have:
kidney problems - little or no urinating, painful or
difficult urination, swelling in your feet or ankles,
feeling tired or short of breath;
liver problems - nausea, upper stomach pain, itching,
tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored
stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
signs of a stroke - sudden numbness or weakness
 (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe
headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or
balance.
Common atorvastatin side effects may include:
muscle or joint pain;
diarrhea; or
upset stomach.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others
may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-
800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
Atorvastatin dosing
information
Usual Adult Dose for Prevention of
Cardiovascular Disease:
Initial dose: 10 mg to 80 mg orally once a day.

The initial dosage of atorvastatin recommended for

this patient in the prevention of cardiovascular
disease is 10 mg to 80 mg orally once a day. The
dose may be administered at any time of the day
without regard for meals.

Dose adjustments should be made at intervals of 2 to

4 week
How should I take atorvastatin?
Take atorvastatin exactly as prescribed by your
doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription
label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose
to make sure you get the best results. Do not use this
medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer
than recommended.
 Atorvastatin is usually taken once a day, with or
without food. Take the medicine at the same time
each day.
Do not break or crush a tablet before taking it.
You may need to stop using atorvastatin for a short
time if you have:
uncontrolled seizures;
an electrolyte imbalance (such as high or low
potassium levels in your blood);
severely low blood pressure;
a severe infection or illness; or
surgery or a medical emergency.
While using atorvastatin, you may need frequent
blood tests.
Atorvastatin is only part of a complete treatment
program that may also include diet, exercise, and
weight control. Follow your doctor's instructions very
closely.
Store at room temperature away from moisture,
heat, and light.
See also: Dosage Information (in more detail)
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip
the missed dose if your next dose is less than 12
hours away. Do not take extra medicine to make up
the missed dose.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use atorvastatin if you are allergic to
it, or if you have:
liver disease; or
if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
To make sure atorvastatin is safe for you, tell your
doctor if you have:
 muscle pain or weakness;
history of liver disease;
history of kidney disease;
history of stroke (including TIA or "mini-stroke");
a thyroid disorder; or
if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily.
Atorvastatin can cause a condition that results in the
breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to
kidney failure. This condition may be more likely to
occur in older adults and in people who have kidney
disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism
(underactive thyroid).
This medicine can harm an unborn baby or cause
birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant.
Stop taking atorvastatin and tell your doctor
right away if you become pregnant Use effective
birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are
taking this medicine.
Atorvastatin may pass into breast milk and could
harm a nursing baby. Do not breast-feed while you
are taking this medicine.
Atorvastatin is not approved for use by anyone
younger than 10 years old.

What is atorvastatin?
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Atorvastatin is in a group of drugs called HMG CoA
reductase inhibitors, or "statins." Atorvastatin
reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density
lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood,
while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (high-
density lipoprotein, or HDL).
Atorvastatin is used to treat high cholesterol, and
to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other
heart complications in people with type 2 diabetes,
coronary heart disease, or other risk factors.
Atorvastatin is used in adults and children who are at
least 10 years old.
Important information
You should not take atorvastatin if you are pregnant
or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease.
Stop taking this medication and tell your
doctor right away if you become pregnant.
Serious drug interactions can occur when certain
medicines are used together with atorvastatin. Tell
each of your healthcare providers about all
medicines you use now, and any medicine you start
or stop using.

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In rare cases, atorvastatin can cause a condition that
results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue,
leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away
if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or
weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual
tiredness, and dark colored urine.
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol.
Atorvastatin will not be as effective in lowering your
cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering
diet plan.
Atorvastatin is only part of a complete program of
treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and
weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and
exercise routines very closely.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip
the missed dose if it is almost time for your next
scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make
up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison
Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain,
diarrhea, skin rash, drowsiness, and hyperactivity.
What should I avoid?
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may
be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that
is watery or has blood in it, stop taking Augmentin
and call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop
the diarrhea unless your do