How to take your new cholesterol tablet, what to expect, and what to watch for.

Starting Atorvastatin

What we have done

Your GP has prescribed Atorvastatin 20mg. It has been sent to your usual pharmacy and added to your repeat prescriptions.

How to take it

• One tablet, once a day, at the same time each day. Morning or evening both work - pick the time you will remember.
• With or without food.
• If you miss a dose, take the next one at the usual time. Do not double up.
• Avoid large amounts of grapefruit juice - an occasional glass is fine.
• Keep taking it. The protection comes from taking it every day, for years.

What to expect

Most people feel no different. Cholesterol falls within a few weeks. The blood test at 3 months checks the drop and your liver.

Side effects and when to contact us

Mild aches or a slightly upset stomach in the first weeks usually settle. Contact the practice if:

• new muscle pain, tenderness or weakness that does not settle, especially if it is on both sides;
• dark or cola-coloured urine - stop the tablet and contact us the same day;
• yellowing of the skin or eyes - contact us urgently;
• you are started on a new medicine by someone else, so we can check it does not interact.

Aches are common in people taking nothing at all, so an ache does not automatically mean the tablet. Tell us and we will work out which it is rather than just stopping. There is more on our muscle aches on a statin page.

Chest pain at rest, or sudden face, arm or speech changes: call 999.

Your blood test

Please book a blood test with reception about 3 months from now, for cholesterol and liver. You do not need to fast. We will text you a reminder. After that, once a year.

More information

NHS.UKStatins: how they work and side effectschmg.co.uk/nhs-statins - opens their website