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Atorvastatin
Drug ClassStatin
Year Approved1996
Conditions TreatedHigh cholesterol, heart disease prevention
AvailabilityPrescription
About Atorvastatin
A statin medication that lowers LDL cholesterol by inhibiting HMG CoA reductase, the rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Atorvastatin or Lipitor became one of the best selling drugs in pharmaceutical history, generating well over 100 billion dollars in revenue for Pfizer before its patent expired. It treats high cholesterol and prevents heart attacks and strokes. Atorvastatin substantially reduces cardiovascular events in high risk patients. Common side effects include muscle pain.