Other brand names of Lipitor are Atorvastatin.

Why do some drugs have different names?
These are trade or brand names registered by the manufacturer. In different countries manufacturers will often use different trade names. The medications have the same active ingredients, but may look different and have a different trade name. Generic drugs are the unadvertised brands. Generic drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe, effective treatment option and they can save you money.

How to Use
Take lipitor tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the lipitor with a drink of water. Lipitor can be taken at anytime of the day with or without food. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Side effects
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
Rare or uncommon: dark yellow or brown urine; decreased urination, difficulty passing urine; fever; muscle pain, tenderness, cramps, or weakness; redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth; skin rash, itching; unusual tiredness or weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome): diarrhea; gas; headache; joint pain; nausea, vomiting; stomach upset or pain; tiredness.

Precautions
Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. You will need to have regular tests to make sure your liver is working properly.
Tell your prescriber or health care professional as soon as you can if you get any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever and tiredness.
Lipitor is only part of a total cholesterol-lowering program. Your physician or dietician can suggest a low-cholesterol and low-fat diet that will reduce your risk of getting heart and blood vessel disease. Avoid alcohol and smoking, and keep a proper exercise schedule.
If you are going to have surgery tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking lipitor.

Drug interactions
Alchohol-containing beverages; amiodarone; antacids; birth control pills; bosentan; certain antibiotics such as clarithromycin and erythromycin; cimetidine; digoxin; diltiazem; grapefruit juice; medicines for fungal infections (examples: fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, voriconazole); herbal medicines such as Went Yeast (Cholestin?®); medicines for treating HIV infections; medicines that suppress your immune response (cyclosporine); medicines to lower cholesterol or triglycerides (examples: clofibrate, colestipol, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, niacin); medicine used to stop early pregnancy (mifepristone, RU-486 or Mifeprex™); nefazodone; phenytoin; spironolactone; troglitazone; verapamil.
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

Notes
Prescriber needs to know if you have any of these conditions: an alcohol problem; any hormone disorder (such as diabetes, under-active thyroid); blood salt imbalance; infection; kidney disease; liver disease; low blood pressure; muscle disorder or condition; recent surgery; seizures (convulsions); severe injury; an unusual or allergic reaction to atorvastatin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives; pregnant or trying to get pregnant; breast-feeding.

Missed dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Storage
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.
Store at controlled room temperature between 20 to 25 degrees C (68 to 77 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.