Key takeaways

  • Atorvastatin is a generic medication that is prescribed to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
  • Common mild side effects of atorvastatin include respiratory infections such as the common cold, diarrhea, arm or leg pain, joint pain, and urinary tract infections. Serious but rare side effects include rhabdomyolysis (muscle tissue breakdown) and liver damage.
  • Higher doses of atorvastatin may increase your risk of side effects. If you develop severe muscle pain, dark urine, jaundice, or other concerning symptoms, talk with your doctor right away.

If you have been prescribed atorvastatin (also called atorvastatin calcium) to lower your cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart problems and stroke, it’s helpful to know what side effects to expect.

In clinical studies of atorvastatin, the most common side effects reported included respiratory infections (such as the common cold), joint pain, diarrhea, arm or leg pain, and urinary tract infections.

This article will help you learn more about the possible side effects of atorvastatin, so you can alert your doctor about any adverse reactions you have and help safely manage your treatment.

Atorvastatin is a generic medication. It is also the active ingredient in the brand-name drug Lipitor.

Examples of atorvastatin’s more commonly reported side effects include:

Most of the atorvastatin side effects reported in clinical studies of the drug were mild and included:

In most cases, these mild atorvastatin side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have ongoing symptoms or symptoms that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop taking atorvastatin unless your doctor recommends it.

Atorvastatin may cause mild side effects not listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

While mild side effects are more commonly reported in people taking atorvastatin, serious side effects are possible too. Serious side effects that have been reported with this drug include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking atorvastatin, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks the side effects of the medication. If you’d like to report a side effect from atorvastatin to the FDA, visit MedWatch.

Allergic reaction

For some people, atorvastatin can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from mild to serious.

What might help?

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking atorvastatin.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to atorvastatin, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

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Here are more details about some of the side effects atorvastatin may cause.

Muscle pain

You may experience muscle pain during your treatment with atorvastatin. This was one of the most common side effects reported in studies of the drug.

Muscle pain from atorvastatin can be mild to severe. In severe cases, muscle pain can be related to a different condition caused by atorvastatin, such as:

  • rhabdomyolysis
  • immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), which is a very rare condition in which your immune system attacks your muscle cells

Other symptoms of rhabdomyolysis and IMNM can include muscle weakness and fatigue.

With rhabdomyolysis, you may also have any of the following symptoms:

Be sure to tell your doctor about any muscle pain you have.

What might help

Since muscle pain could be due to a more serious condition, it’s important to tell your doctor about any muscle pain or other symptoms of these conditions you have. Rhabdomyolysis and IMNM may also lead to other serious complications, including kidney problems.

Your doctor will monitor you for muscle pain and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis IMNM during your atorvastatin treatment. If you do develop muscle pain, your doctor can help determine the cause and the best treatment option for you.

If your muscle pain is mild, your doctor may recommend a lower dose of atorvastatin. But if your pain is severe, they may recommend that you stop taking the drug and try a different treatment for your condition.

Liver damage

Liver damage is a possible side effect of atorvastatin. It’s possible that this drug can cause an increase in your liver enzyme levels, which may indicate liver damage.

Tell your doctor right away if you develop any symptoms of liver damage. These can include:

What might help

Before you start taking atorvastatin, your doctor will order liver function tests. These tests help evaluate your liver by measuring liver enzyme levels. They’ll then monitor your liver throughout your treatment. If you develop symptoms of liver problems, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely check your liver by ordering another liver function blood test.

If you have increased liver enzyme levels, your doctor will help determine the next steps in your treatment plan. They may recommend a lower dose of atorvastatin or have you stop taking the drug altogether. In the latter case, they’ll recommend a different treatment for your condition.

Joint pain

You may experience joint pain from atorvastatin. This was one of the most common side effects reported in studies of the drug.

What might help

If you have joint pain from taking atorvastatin, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to manage the pain. For example, they may suggest a cream for joint pain that you apply to your skin or other OTC pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

Keeping track of side effects

During your atorvastatin treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how atorvastatin affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Atorvastatin can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether atorvastatin is a good treatment option for you. Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting this drug. Factors to consider include those described below.

Atorvastatin and diabetes

Tell your doctor if you have diabetes before you start taking atorvastatin. This drug can increase blood sugar levels, and if you have diabetes, this could make the condition worse. Your doctor can help determine whether atorvastatin may be a safe treatment option for you in this case.

Atorvastatin and kidney problems

If you have kidney problems, tell your doctor before starting atorvastatin. This medication may cause muscle conditions. And rarely, these muscle conditions may increase your risk of kidney problems. If you already have a kidney condition, atorvastatin may worsen your condition. In this case, your doctor can recommend the safest treatment option for you.

Recent stroke or ministroke

Tell your doctor if you’ve had a recent stroke or ministroke (transient ischemic attack). Atorvastatin may increase the risk of stroke in people who have had a stroke or ministroke within the past 6 months. Your doctor can help determine whether atorvastatin may be safe for you to take in this case.

Allergic reaction

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to atorvastatin or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. Ask them about other medications that might be better options.

Atorvastatin and thyroid problems

If you have a thyroid condition, tell your doctor before starting atorvastatin. The risk of certain side effects from atorvastatin, such as muscle pain, can be increased if you have thyroid problems. Your doctor may monitor you more often for side effects in this case.

Atorvastatin and liver problems

Tell your doctor about any liver problems you have before starting atorvastatin. This drug may cause liver problems and can make existing liver conditions worse. Due to this risk, doctors typically will not prescribe atorvastatin for people with liver problems. In this case, your doctor can recommend the best treatment option for you.

Alcohol and atorvastatin

Atorvastatin may not be safe to take if you drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol per day. This is because atorvastatin and alcohol can both cause liver problems.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much alcohol, if any, may be safe for you to consume while taking atorvastatin.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

There aren’t currently enough studies to know what effects atorvastatin may have when taken during pregnancy. But the drug may cause harm to a fetus. Due to the possible risks, it’s not considered safe to take atorvastatin during pregnancy.

It’s also not known if atorvastatin shows up in breast milk or what effects the drug may have on a child who’s breastfed. But because of the possible risks, breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this drug.

Talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed. They can help you determine the best treatment plan for your condition or the best way to feed your child.

Although side effects reported with all tablet strengths of atorvastatin are the same, taking a higher dose of the drug may increase your risk of these side effects.

For example, people taking 80-milligram (mg) doses may experience more side effects than those taking 20-mg doses. And those taking 40 mg daily may have more side effects than people taking 10 mg daily.

Talk with your doctor about any side effects that you have with atorvastatin. They’ll help determine the best dosage of the drug for you.

Learn more about atorvastatin dosage.

No, you shouldn’t experience hair loss from taking atorvastatin. This wasn’t a side effect reported in studies of people taking the drug. If you notice hair loss, talk with your doctor about what may be causing it. In some cases, other conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid problems, can cause hair loss.

Once your doctor has determined the cause of your hair loss, they can recommend the best treatment. For example, they may suggest using an over-the-counter (OTC) medication, such as Rogaine (minoxidil).

Be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any OTC medications. They’ll let you know if they’re safe to take with atorvastatin.

You shouldn’t experience withdrawal symptoms from stopping atorvastatin. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on. Dependence is when your body needs a drug to function as usual.)

In studies, withdrawal symptoms weren’t reported with this drug. Atorvastatin lowers your cholesterol and reduces your risk of certain heart problems. So stopping treatment may increase your cholesterol levels and your risk of heart problems. But you may not notice these increased risks because these conditions may not cause symptoms.

If you’d like to stop taking atorvastatin, talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you.

Although uncommon, atorvastatin can cause long-term side effects. These side effects may improve over time, especially if you stop taking the drug. Examples of long-term side effects that may occur include:

If you’re concerned about long-term side effects from atorvastatin, talk with your doctor. If you develop any of these side effects, your doctor may recommend reducing your dose or suggest a different treatment.

Atorvastatin (also available as the brand-name drug Lipitor) is an oral tablet medication used to lower cholesterol and protect heart health. While it helps many people, it can also cause side effects.

  • Common and mild side effects: Most people who take atorvastatin experience only minor issues, such as mild joint pain, muscle aches, diarrhea, or common cold symptoms. These usually go away on their own.
  • Serious atorvastatin risks: In rare cases, atorvastatin can cause severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) or liver problems.
  • How to manage serious risks: Your doctor will use blood tests to check your liver and muscles before and during your treatment. If you get mild muscle pain, your doctor might lower your dose.

When to get help: Call your doctor right away if you develop severe muscle pain, dark urine, yellowing of your skin or eyes, or signs of an allergic reaction. Never stop taking atorvastatin without talking with your doctor first.

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