Atorvastatin+Vitamin B3 / Nicotinic Acid / Niacin

• Used in patients for the treatment of high cholesterol levels.
• Used in heart disease patients as a preventive measure.

When should one not use Atorvastatin+Vitamin B3 / Nicotinic Acid / Niacin

• If you have active liver disease.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• If you are using this medication for children or infants.

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Indigestion
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Stomachache
• Itching
• Flushing of skin
• Increased blood glucose levels

Other General Warnings

• You notice any signs of liver illness like dark coloured urine, yellowish discolouration of skin and eyes, and stomach pains.
• You are a diabetic patient. Monitoring your blood sugar levels is important as Atorvastatin+Vitamin B3 / Nicotinic Acid / Niacin causes them to rise.
• You're on Atorvastatin+Vitamin B3 / Nicotinic Acid / Niacin, and you're planning pregnancy, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
• You have unexplained fatigue, muscle pain, weakness or tenderness. This is alarming because of a rare but serious condition called Rhabdomyolysis, wherein kidneys are damaged, and even death may occur.
• Lifestyle modifications are important for effective results with this medicine. They include weight reduction, a low-fat diet, a low salt diet, quitting smoking and alcohol consumption.
• It is important to tell your doctor about all the medicines and herbal supplements you're receiving.
• You have kidney problems or a history of liver disease.

How Does It Work?

• Atorvastatin+Vitamin B3 / Nicotinic Acid / Niacin combines two medicines, Atorvastatin and Vitamin B3 / Nicotinic Acid.
• Atorvastatin has lipid-lowering properties. It acts by blocking HMG-CoA-reductase, an enzyme that makes cholesterol in the body. Likewise, atorvastatin lowers 'bad' cholesterol (LDL, VLDL) and triglycerides and increases 'good' cholesterol (HDL).
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin) is a type of Vitamin B that helps lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

Interactions with other medicines

• Antibiotics like Erythromycin and Clarithromycin increase the risk for muscle problems.
• Antifungals like Itraconazole and ketoconazole can increase the accumulation of medicine in the body; thus, the dose is usually reduced if the patient has to take both.
• Rifampicin (anti-TB medicine) can lower the amount of medicine in the body.
• Some Anti-HIV medicines like ritonavir and lopinavir can increase levels of Atorvastatin+Vitamin B3 / Nicotinic Acid / Niacin in the body and cause muscle breakdown.
• Verapamil, diltiazem or amlodipine may interact with this medicine.
• Clopidogrel and Warfarin (blood thinners used to prevent clots) may interact with this medicine.

Interactions with food items

• Take Atorvastatin+Vitamin B3 / Nicotinic Acid / Niacin with food or a snack to avoid gastric problems.
• Grapefruit juice should be avoided, as it increases the levels of this medicine in the blood.

Overdose

• Atorvastatin+Vitamin B3 / Nicotinic Acid / Niacin, if taken in overdose, should be reported immediately as it increases the risk of developing side effects and may also damage the kidneys or liver acutely.
• Overdose can cause diarrhoea, gas, heartburn, joint pain, forgetfulness, confusion, unexplained muscle weakness, tenderness, upper stomach pain, dark-coloured urine, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes

Missed a Dose