What is atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin (generic for Lipitor) is a prescription drug used to prevent heart disease and treat high cholesterol. Atorvastatin has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. In people with coronary heart disease, atorvastatin has been found to lessen the need for difficult heart surgeries. As a cholesterol drug, atorvastatin is used to decrease bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) and triglycerides and to increase good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein). Cholesterol, fats, and lipids build up on the walls of your arteries in a process known as atherosclerosis. This decreases blood flow and oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Atorvastatin helps to lower cholesterol, which has been shown to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and myocardial infarction (heart attack).