Atorvastatin: What Is It Used For?

Atorvastatin, like other statins, is effective in preventing cardiovascular disease. In addition, it is capable of selectively and competitively inhibiting the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol.

Atorvastatin is a drug that belongs to the pharmacological family of statins. These drugs are widely used to lower cholesterol levels, with the aim of preventing cardiovascular disease as well as dyslipidemia.

Excess cholesterol is a risk factor for the onset of this type of disease. These are the main cause of death in developed countries. However, we must not forget that  cholesterol is also an essential substance for the correct functioning of the organism. Indeed, it is the precursor of many hormones.

Therefore,  it is fundamental to keep cholesterol levels at normal ranges. A cholesterol deficit can also have serious health consequences. It is therefore very important to strictly follow the treatment guidelines established by the doctor in each case.

Learn more about cardiovascular disease

As we have mentioned,  atorvastatin aims to prevent cardiovascular disease  in patients who have cholesterol levels raised above normal.

Furthermore, cardiovascular diseases constitute  a set of pathologies which represent the leading cause of death in developed countries. Among them, we can cite:

• Cardiovascular hypertension
• Heart failure
• Myocardial infarction
• Apoplexy or cerebrovascular disease
• Peripheral vascular disease

Without a doubt,  the development of these diseases is associated with a series of risk factors  that increase the likelihood of suffering from them. Among these risk factors, which we should always try to avoid, we find:

• Smoking:  Smoking does nothing more than build up toxins and disease. Smokers are twice as likely to suffer from some type of cardiovascular disease as a non-smoker
• Sedentarism:  the population of developed countries is less and less physically active. As in the case of tobacco, lack of exercise doubles the possibility of contracting this type of disease.
• Bad eating habits

How does atorvastatin affect the body?

Atorvastatin, like other statins, is effective in preventing cardiovascular disease. It is also capable of selectively and competitively inhibiting the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol.

More concretely,  we are referring to hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA reductase). This is the enzyme responsible for converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate. The latter is the precursor of sterol components, such as cholesterol.

Thus, by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase,  atorvastatin also reduces the amounts of mevalonate. And, therefore, the amount of cholesterol that gets stored in the liver.

On the other hand,  it should be emphasized that this mechanism also affects the regulation of LDL receptors,  known as “bad cholesterol”, as  well as the uptake of these lipoproteins from the circulation.

The final consequence of all these processes is the reduction of “bad cholesterol” or LDL. The effectiveness of the treatment is still being researched in studies and clinical trials.

Adverse effects of treatment with atorvastatin

Although this is a well-tolerated drug,  it is not without producing a series of adverse effects. By adverse effects, we mean all those which are triggered in an unwanted and involuntary manner following the treatment of a drug.

The adverse reactions that have been described with the administration of atorvastatin were mild and resolved on their own. In this sense,  among the most frequent we can mention:

• Gastrointestinal problems,  such as constipation, diarrhea, gas, dyspepsia, or abdominal pain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Insomnia

In addition, a number of side effects have been observed and are among the uncommon adverse reactions  to treatment with atorvastatin. However,  not all of them are necessarily due to treatment with this medicine. Here are a few, for example:

• Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
• Dizziness
• Thrombocytopenia
• Allergic reactions
• Alopecia
• Eruption

Conclusion…

Atorvastatin is a drug that belongs to the statin family. It is mainly used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

However,  remember that the best prevention is to follow a healthy lifestyle. Like playing sports every day, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding toxic habits such as smoking.