Atorvastatin: safety and tolerability.
BACKGROUND
Atorvastatin is the most widely used statin administered in a variety of settings, including primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, in the elderly, in patients with chronic kidney disease and in diabetic patients. Therefore, the safety and tolerability of atorvastatin is of paramount importance.


METHODS
We searched MEDLINE for literature published between 1997 and 2010 on the safety and tolerability of atorvastatin. We retrieved data from randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, post-marketing studies, reports to regulatory bodies and case reports of rare adverse events.


RESULTS
The reader will gain insight into the incidence, severity, prevention and management of the major adverse effects of atorvastatin (i.e., liver function abnormalities and muscle-related side effects) overall and in special populations.


CONCLUSIONS
The existing data suggest that atorvastatin is generally well tolerated across the range of its therapeutic dosage (10 - 80 mg/day).
Athyros
Vasilios G
VG
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Medical School, Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, 15 Marmara St, Thessaloniki 551 32, Greece. athyros@med.auth.gr
Tziomalos
Konstantinos
K
Karagiannis
Asterios
A
Mikhailidis
Dimitri P
DP
D000069059:Atorvastatin; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin