Effective blood cholesterol control is impossible without the use of a reliable drug to treat hypercholesterolemia, such as Lipitor. Singapore Cardiac Society recommends buying and using Lipitor for the prophylaxis of heart attacks and other cardiovascular disorders.
Lipitor is a synthetic lipid-lowering drug from the group of statins. The active ingredient Atorvastatin is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme, required for the production of cholesterol.
After the oral administration, Lipitor is well and completely absorbed. The maximum concentration in the blood plasma is reached in 1-2 hours after the ingestion. The intake of fatty and high-calorie foods reduces the degree and speed of the drug absorption, but the therapeutic effect of Lipitor does not subside.
The half-life of Lipitor is about 14 hours. The active metabolites promote the prolongation of the therapeutic effect for 20-30 hours after the abolition of hypocholesterolemic therapy.
Each Lipitor tablet can contain 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg or 80 mg of the active ingredient Atorvastatin. In the best pharmacies of Singapore, Lipitor can be purchased only with a medical prescription from a cardiologist. Those who do not have time to undergo a medical examination can buy Lipitor online.
Lipitor should only be used if non-pharmacological methods for treating hypercholesterolemia (diet, exercise) are not able to control cholesterol level in the blood. During the entire period of Lipitor use, patients should follow the plan of the hypocholesterolemic diet.
The dosage of Lipitor is:
- for children older than 10 years: 10-20 mg once a day;
- for the prevention of cardiovascular complications: 10-80 mg once a day;
- for the treatment of initial hypercholesterolemia: 10 mg per day for 14-30 days;
- for the treatment of severe hypercholesterolemia: 80 mg once a day.
Titration of Lipitor dose should be performed no more than once a month. Every 2-4 weeks, the attending physician should take the patient’s blood test to control the level of lipids.
Since Lipitor began to be used in clinical practice (1996), its effectiveness in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease has been well studied. According to the National Heart Center Singapore (NHCS), Lipitor is the most prescribed drug for normalizing cholesterol.
The use of Lipitor at the initial stage of metabolic disorders significantly reduces the risk of more serious cardiovascular problems. The hypocholesterolemic effect of Lipitor prevents the development of vascular atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular problems.
Lipitor treatment will help to prevent the occurrence of a stroke due to a decrease in the incidence of myocardial infarction, arrhythmia and other manifestations of coronary heart disease. The role of prolonged use of Lipitor in the prevention of stroke lies in a positive effect on the vascular endothelium, the blood flow pattern, and its anti-inflammatory effect.
The results of clinical trials have proven that the use of Lipitor improves the clinical efficacy of hypercholesterolemia. In other words, the use of this hypolipidemic drug leads to a marked decrease in blood cholesterol level and a positive dynamics of the functional heart parameters.
Long-term (more than 6 months) hypocholesterolemic therapy with Lipitor is well tolerated by patients. Serious side effects are rare. In Singapore, Lipitor is prescribed mainly by the cardiologists, primary care physicians and general practitioners. However, currently there are all grounds for a more active prescription of the medicine by neurologists with the aim of preventing recurrent ischemic stroke.
The advantages of Lipitor use in hypocholesterolemic therapy:
- safe for health when used in high doses;
- by the degree of cholesterol lowering significantly exceeds the majority of statins;
- possesses a higher lipid-lowering activity, than other drugs, intended for blood cholesterol level normalization;
- helps to stop the progression of atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels;
- can be used to treat hypercholesterolemia in patients with renal insufficiency, since it is not nephrotoxic and is not excreted by the kidneys.
Lipitor is the first trademark of Atorvastatin. The hypolipidemic drug was developed in 1982 by the researchers from the pharmaceutical company Warner-Lambert. Over time, the drug has been used in cardiac practice in many countries around the world. Pfizer obtained a marketing authorization for the sale of Lipitor in Singapore on November 28, 1997.
Because of the high cost of Lipitor, not all Singaporeans can afford hypocholesterolemic therapy. Instead of Lipitor, you can choose another drug that contains the same active ingredient Atorvastatin, but is cheaper.
Currently, Lipitor generics, available on the shelves of Singapore pharmacies, are sold under such brands, as Eturion, Atoris, Torvatec, Atorvachol, Torvalipin, Atswift, Tulip and Atorvon. If the patient does not want to overpay for the brand, he can buy Atorvastatin under a generic name.
Singapore suppliers of generic Lipitor are such pharmaceutical companies, as Singapore Pharmaceutical, Novem, Drug Houses of Australia, Pharmaforte, Goldplus, Intega and Entrepharm.
You can find other statins (Lovastatin, Simvastatin) on the shelves of Singapore pharmacies, as well. However, Lipitor continues to hold the first place in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Singapore Department of Statistics provided disappointing data, according to which about 52% of Singaporeans still need effective hypocholesterolemic therapy.