Lipitor ( atorvastatin) is a high-intensity statin and is prescribed to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Reproductive Toxicology 18 (2004) 619-621 Case report Normal pregnancy outcome following inadvertent exposure to rosiglitazone, gliclazide, and atorvastatin in a diabetic and hypertensive woman Fusun Yaris a,∗ , Ersin Yaris b , Mine Kadioglu b , Cunay Ulku b , Murat Kesim b , Nuri Ihsan Kalyoncu b a Department of Family Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, TR-61187 . Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. 1 This assignment was based on animal studies that date back to the introduction of lovastatin into the market in 1987; however . Because atorvastatin decreases cholesterol synthesis, the drug may cause fetal harm. Brand name: Lipitor. Statins in pregnancy are also contraindicated in Europe and in many other countries worldwide. Women who could get pregnant should use an effective method of contraception to prevent pregnancy. Patients already taking anti-glycemic drugs were also ineligible to participate. For pregnant women: Atorvastatin should never be used during pregnancy. Taking atorvastatin with other medicines and herbal supplements. No: I believe it is pregnancy class X which means it would be contraindicated. 3. Do not take Atorvastatin if you have active liver disease. Exposure to statins at any stage of pregnancy would not usually be regarded as medical grounds for termination of pregnancy. I just found out that I am approximately 4-5 weeks pregnant. Side effects. Read More Common side effects include joint pain, diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, and muscle pains. Abstract Statins are contraindicated in pregnancy; however, as women delay pregnancy and statin use increases the risk of statin exposure in pregnancy is likely to rise. amlodipine/atorvastatin Caduet All . Common side effects are fatigue, flatulence (gas), heartburn, and constipation. Rare reports of congenital anomalies following intrauterine exposure to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have been received. How and when to take it. In chronic kidney disease, for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events [unlicensed starting dose in primary prevention; unlicensed in secondary prevention], initially 20 mg once daily, increased if necessary (on specialist advice if eGFR < 30 mL/minute/1.73 m 2 ); max. In contrast to some early reports that statins are teratogenic, more recent observational studies have called into question the teratogenic risk of statins. 80 mg once daily. However, women exposed to statins are more likely to have other risk factors such as obesity and pre-pregnancy diabetes which confer additional independent risks to the fetus and pregnancy. a feeling of pins and needles on skin. For the prevention of cardiovascular disease, statins are a first-line treatment. The US Food and Drug Administration currently designate statins in pregnancy as category X, or contraindicated. Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. If you are a woman of child- bearing age and are taking this medicine, use a proven method alcoholof birth control to avoid pregnancy. Dose range: 10-80 mg once daily. Figure 2 Pregnancy outcomes according to study group. Discontinuation and withdrawal of Atorvastatin / Lipitor. However, some women do experience high cholesterol during pregnancy. Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia 80 mg. a feeling of general discomfort called malaise. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Atherosclerosis is a chronic process, and ordinarily discontinuation of lipid-lowering medicinal products during pregnancy should have little impact on the long-term risk associated with primary hypercholesterolaemia. Adequate, well-controlled studies with pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in any trimester of pregnancy Category - B (No Evidence of risk in humans) Adequate, well-controlled studies with pregnant women haven't shown an increased risk of fetal abnormalities, or, in the absence of adequate human studies, animal . Lipitor (chemical name: atorvastatin) is a prescription statin medication used to lower total cholesterol and "bad" cholesterol (LDL). Pregnancy. Key points Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin have similar efficacy and side effect profiles In all cases of first-trimester statin or fibrate use, prescriptions were not renewed in the second trimester. For pregnant women: Atorvastatin should never be used during pregnancy. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility. We evaluated the evidence, including published reviews and primary studies, on the safety of statins in pregnancy and assessed the benefits to the mother. Talk to your doctor if you are trying to get pregnant. No controlled clinical trials with atorvastatin have been conducted in pregnant women. There are seven HMG-CoA inhibitors, known as statins: atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor). Atorvastatin calcium can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Read More If patients were on a different statin regimen prior to enrollment, this is discontinued and replaced by atorvastatin 40 mg. For patients who had been on a more potent statin regimen prior to enrollment (ie, atorvastatin >40 mg or rosuvastatin >20 mg/day), the background therapy throughout the study period will be atorvastatin 80 mg/day. Medicines in the statin class include atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, . Find out what health conditions may be a health risk when taken with atorvastatin oral rosuvastatin=Crestor) My advice is to contact the cardiologist ask ask him/her if it is possible to switch to an alternative. Atorvastatin, sold under the brand name Lipitor among others, is a statin medication used to prevent cardiovascular disease in those at high risk and to treat abnormal lipid levels. Doctors diagnose high cholesterol through a simple blood test. Atorvastatin should be administered to women of childbearing age only when such patients are highly unlikely to conceive and have been informed of the potential hazards to the fetus. Atorvastatin is contraindicated during pregnancy (see section 4.3). In contrast to some early reports that statins are teratogenic, more recent observational studies have called into question the teratogenic risk of statins. This chart represents information on select drugs that are contraindicated (Pregnancy category X) for women who are pregnant. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Patients already taking anti-glycemic drugs were also ineligible to participate. Atorvastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. intense abdominal pain. If you become pregnant while taking atorvastatin, stop taking the medicine and tell your doctor. Triglycerides can increase up to 200 to 400% during pregnancy. Maternal treatment with atorvastatin may reduce the fetal levels of mevalonate which is a precursor of cholesterol biosynthesis. Medicines should only be prescribed in pregnancy if the expected benefits to the mother are considered to be greater than the risk to the mother and foetus. Safety in pregnant women has not been established. The FDA currently recommends against Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) use during pregnancy as experts have not established the safety of this drug for use in pregnant individuals. There are alternatives for Lipitor that may not show this side-effect. Maternal treatment with atorvastatin may reduce the fetal levels of mevalonate which is a precursor of cholesterol biosynthesis. Atorvastatin should not be used during pregnancy because it may be harmful to a developing baby. LIPITOR is an HMG -CoA reductase inhibitorindicatedas an adjunct therapy to diet to: •Reduce the risk of MI, stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina in adult patients without CHD, but with multiple risk factors (1.1). Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers — it's anonymous and free! Atorvastatin therapy is contraindicated for use during pregnancy. Although the current trend is that actual risk is lower than once thought, the available literature is limited by potential . Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. Atorvastatin (Lipitor) can cause serious birth defects, or even infant death, so let your doctor know if you're planning to become pregnant or are currently pregnant or breastfeeding. Women of child-bearing potential not using appropriate contraception. Group I patients received Atorvastatin 10mg plus Fenofibrate 145 mg, while Group II received the combination of the tab. In a study in pregnant rats administered atorvastatin calcium at doses equivalent to 20, 100, or 225 mg/kg/day, from gestation day 7 through to lactation day 20 (weaning), there was decreased survival at birth, postnatal day 4, weaning, and post-weaning in pups of mothers dosed with 225 mg/kg/day, a dose at which maternal toxicity was observed. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early and rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. Atorvastatin Pregnancy Warnings Limited published data have not shown an increased risk of major congenital malformations or miscarriages. So, we typically recommend that patients go off their statin when trying to conceive, during the pregnancy, and while breastfeeding. Pregnancy. I have looked everywhere online and only find that it is a class X drug. Medication Pregnancy Risk Category Breastfeeding Risk Category Acitretin (Soriatane) X L5 Aminopterin X L5 Anastrozole (Arimidex) X L5 Atorvastatin (Lipitor, Caduet, Atorvastatin Calcium) X L3 Black Cohosh X L4 Blue Cohosh (Blue Cholesterol (and triglycerides) are fats that are made in your body. Inform all women and girls of childbearing age with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) that adequate contraception is required during treatment and for 1 month afterwards. gas. Treating high cholesterol with Lipitor is a very long term thing. Atorvastatin (Lipitor) Due to increasing average maternal age and maternal obesity, some women may be taking cholesterol-lowering medications such as Lipitor before pregnancy or in early pregnancy. Third trimester exposure to medicines may be associated with withdrawal effects in the newborn. Atorvastatin During Pregnancy High cholesterol is usually not a concern for women who are in their childbearing years. burping. The medicine may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy. Rare reports of congenital anomalies following intrauterine exposure to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have been received. Atorvastatin and simvastatin — manufacturers . • Use a proper birth control method to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine, since it is harmful in pregnancy • It is important to continue taking this medicine even if Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had. Statins are contraindicated in pregnancy because of the perceived increased risk of congenital abnormalities to the foetus. It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body to decrease the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. Free RX Coupon. Regulators will now have to update their information and potentially revisit a blanket ban. (i.e. -If the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, therapy should be discontinued and the patient should be apprised of the potential harm to the fetus. Statins are a class of medications used to treat high cholesterol levels. Prescribe atorvastatin with caution to people: Pregnancy and breastfeeding. This is not an inclusive list of products that carry that pregnancy category. Who can and cannot take it. First trimester exposure to medicines presents the greatest risk of foetal malformations. Atorvastatin calcium tablets may harm your unborn baby. While the evidence that statins can cause birth defects in humans is not conclusive, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that statins not be taken by women who are pregnant. pregnancy should have little impact on the outcome of long-term therapy of primary So, if you are taking a statin and are planning to become pregnant, you should let your healthcare provider know of your plans. There are alternatives for Lipitor that may not show this side-effect. Women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant are discouraged from using Lipitor; physicians are encouraged to find alternate treatment methods during the pregnancy but should only do so if the risk to the mother is not immediately life-threatening. 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