By: Derek Hu

 Atorvastatin or rather known by its trade name Lipitor is a drug that aids in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke and to decrease the chance that heart surgery will be needed in people who have heart disease or who are at risk of developing heart disease.  Lipitor works as a statin, statins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase which is involved in the production of cholesterol in the liver.

 Lipitor contains side effects such as diarrhea, constipation, gas, headache and joint pain.  But it also has had cases of potentially dangerous side effects like muscle weakness, lack of energy, chest pain, nausea, hives, difficulty breathing and loss of appetite.

 The drug being like a statin works by decreasing production of cholesterol in the liver.

 Atorvastatin was first synthesized or discovered in 1985 by pharmaceutical researcher Bruce Roth working for the company now known as Pfizer.  For its high rate of positive results it has sold a astounding 12.4 billion dollars globally and has been given the title of the top-selling branded pharmaceutical drug in the world.

 Even though this medicine is for lowering reducing the risk of heart attacks, you the consumer still need to take care of yourself by diet and exercising.  Having a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet which includes foods like fish, vegetables, fat-free milk chicken, cottage cheese and the uses of vegetable oils.