Below are the general guidelines for dosing atorvastatin. Note that these dosages may be adjusted on a case-by-case basis for individual patients. Always follow your prescribing physician’s instructions for taking atorvastatin.
The following information comes from DailyMed, an FDA label information provider.
What if I miss a dose of Atorvastatin?
According to the Mayo Clinic, if you miss a dose of atorvastatin, you should take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
What if I overdose on Atorvastatin?
There is no specific treatment for atorvastatin calcium overdosage. In the event of an overdose, the patient should be treated symptomatically, and supportive measures instituted as required. Due to extensive drug binding to plasma proteins, hemodialysis is not expected to significantly enhance atorvastatin calcium clearance.
How is Atorvastatin administered?
Hyperlipidemia (Heterozygous Familial and Nonfamilial) and Mixed Dyslipidemia (Fredrickson Types IIa and IIb)
The recommended starting dose of atorvastatin calcium tablets is 10 or 20 mg once daily. Patients who require a large reduction in LDL-C (more than 45%) may be started at 40 mg once daily. The dosage range of atorvastatin calcium tablets is 10 to 80 mg once daily. Atorvastatin calcium tablets can be administered as a single dose at any time of the day, with or without food. The starting dose and maintenance doses of atorvastatin calcium tablets should be individualized according to patient characteristics such as the goal of therapy and response. After initiation and/or upon titration of atorvastatin calcium tablets, lipid levels should be analyzed within 2 to 4 weeks and dosage adjusted accordingly.
Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Pediatric Patients (10 to 17 years of age)
The recommended starting dose of atorvastatin calcium tablets is 10 mg/day; the maximum recommended dose is 20 mg/day (doses greater than 20 mg have not been studied in this patient population). Doses should be individualized according to the recommended goal of therapy. Adjustments should be made at intervals of 4 weeks or more.
Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
The dosage of atorvastatin calcium tablets in patients with homozygous FH is 10 to 80 mg daily. Atorvastatin calcium tablets should be used as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g., LDL apheresis) in these patients or if such treatments are unavailable.
Concomitant Lipid-Lowering Therapy
Atorvastatin calcium tablets may be used with bile acid resins (Ex. cholestyramine) The combination of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and fibrates (Ex. fenofibrate) should generally be used with caution.
Dosage in Patients With Renal Impairment
The renal disease does not affect the plasma concentrations nor LDL-C reduction of atorvastatin calcium tablets; thus, dosage adjustment in patients with renal dysfunction is not necessary.
Dosage in Patients Taking Cyclosporine, Clarithromycin, Itraconazole, or Certain Protease Inhibitors
In patients taking cyclosporine or the HIV protease inhibitors (tipranavir plus ritonavir) or the hepatitis C protease inhibitor (telaprevir), therapy with atorvastatin calcium tablets should be avoided. In patients with HIV taking lopinavir plus ritonavir, caution should be used when prescribing atorvastatin calcium tablets and the lowest dose necessary employed. In patients taking clarithromycin, itraconazole, or in patients with HIV taking a combination of saquinavir plus ritonavir, darunavir plus ritonavir, fosamprenavir, or fosamprenavir plus ritonavir, therapy with atorvastatin calcium tablets should be limited to 20 mg, and appropriate clinical assessment is recommended to ensure that the lowest dose necessary of atorvastatin calcium tablets is employed. In patients taking the HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir or the hepatitis C protease inhibitor boceprevir, therapy with atorvastatin calcium tablets should be limited to 40 mg, and appropriate clinical assessment is recommended to ensure that the lowest dose necessary of atorvastatin calcium tablets is employed.
How is Atorvastatin supplied?
Atorvastatin calcium tablets 10 mg are white, elliptical, film-coated tablets, debossed with â RX 12′ on one side and plain on the other side. They are supplied as follows:
NDC 54868-6319-0 Bottles of 30
Atorvastatin calcium tablets 20 mg are white, elliptical, film-coated tablets, debossed with â RX 828′ on one side and plain on the other side. They are supplied as follows:
NDC 54868-6320-0 Bottles of 30
NDC 54868-6320-1 Bottles of 90
Atorvastatin calcium tablets 40 mg are white, elliptical, film-coated tablets, debossed with â RX 829′ on one side and plain on the other side. They are supplied as follows:
NDC 54868-6321-1 Bottles of 15
NDC 54868-6321-0 Bottles of 30
NDC 54868-6321-2 Bottles of 90
Atorvastatin calcium tablets 80 mg are white, elliptical, film-coated tablets, debossed with â RX 830′ on one side and plain on the other side. They are supplied as follows:
NDC 54868-6322-0 Bottles of 30
NDC 54868-6322-1 Bottles of 90
Storage
Store at 20 – 25° C (68 – 77° F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].
Dispense in tight containers (USP).
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