Atorvastatin

Atorvastatin (brand name Lipitor) is a drug in the statin class.

It is used for prophylaxis (prevention) of heart problems called cardiovascular disease and to fix abnormal lipid levels, for example when there is too much cholesterol.   

It is also sometimes given for prophylaxis in strokes and chest pain. It may also be prescribed for people with a family history of heart disease, or a long-term health condition such as type 1 or type 2 diabetes and also rheumatoid arthritis. It has been studied in the prevention or treatment of some types of cancer.

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

It has a "dual mechanism" or double effect which complements one-another. Firstly it works by stopping HMG-CoA (hydroxymethyl-glutaryl coenzyme A), and fully inhibiting or stopping it by targeting an enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) which helps in a key step in the body making LDL cholesterol (low-density lipid cholesterol or "bad cholesterol") so that the body makes less cholesterol. Second, it increases the number of LDL receptors on hepatic (liver) cell surfaces, and enhances or makes better the uptake and use (catabolism) of LDL and reducing LDL production and the number of LDL particles. Doing this, it lowers plasma (blood) cholesterol and lipoprotein levels. Like other statins, it might sometimes show direct angioplastic activity (changing the physical characteristics of the blood vessels, such as arteries) by stopping cells in (G1 phase of) their life cycle.

 History 
Atorvastatin was first synthesized (made) in 1985 by Dr. Bruce Roth and approved by the FDA in 1996 and patented by Pfizer. In 2021, it was the most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 116 million prescriptions filled for over 28 million patients. 

The patent for atorvastatin (held by Pfizer) expired in 2011. Atorvastatin calcium is the calcium salt version of the drug. The medication is available as a generic drug.

In other countries, atorvastatin calcium is made as tablets by generic medication makers. Pfizer also makes its own generic version under the name Zarator. In addition to Lipitor it is sold under the names: Atoris, Atorlip, Atorva, Atorvastatin Teva, Atorvastatina Parke-Davis, Avas, Cardyl, Liprimar, Litorva, Mactor, Orbeos, Prevencor, Sortis, Stator, Tahor, Torid, Torvacard, Torvast, Totalip, Tulip, Xarator. 

In the US, Lipitor is marketed by Viatris after Upjohn was spun off from Pfizer.

 Related pages
 Statins: Rosuvastatin
 Cardiovascular system
 Fatty acid

References

Category:Statins
Category:Pyrroles
Category:Anilides
Category:Hydroxycarboxylic acids
Category:Organofluorides