Aztor (Atorvastatin): Uses and Indications
Aztor (Atorvastatin) is primarily used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and lower cholesterol levels in patients with hyperlipidemia, diabetes, or established cardiovascular disease. 1
Primary Indications
Atorvastatin (Aztor) is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) with several approved uses:
Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
- Reduces risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina in adults with multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) 1
- Reduces risk of MI and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with multiple risk factors 2, 1
- Reduces risk of non-fatal MI, fatal and non-fatal stroke, revascularization procedures, hospitalization for heart failure, and angina in adults with clinically evident CHD 1
Cholesterol Management
- Lowers LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in adults with primary hyperlipidemia 1
- Treats adults and children aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia 1
- Adjunct to other LDL-C-lowering therapies in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia 1
Other Lipid Disorders
Dosage and Effectiveness
Atorvastatin is available in various strengths (10,20,40, and 80 mg tablets) and is typically administered once daily 1. The dosage depends on the condition being treated:
- For primary prevention: 10 mg daily is often sufficient 2
- For secondary prevention or high-risk patients: Higher doses (40-80 mg) may be used 2
- For stroke prevention: 80 mg daily has shown significant benefits 2
Clinical trials have demonstrated that atorvastatin produces greater reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels compared to other statins like lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin 2.
Evidence of Effectiveness
Several landmark trials support atorvastatin's efficacy:
- The ASCOT-LLA trial showed that atorvastatin 10 mg reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 36% in hypertensive patients with multiple risk factors 2
- The PROVE IT trial demonstrated that intensive lipid-lowering with atorvastatin 80 mg reduced composite cardiovascular endpoints by 16% compared to moderate therapy 2
- The SPARCL trial showed an 18% relative reduction in stroke risk with atorvastatin 80 mg in patients with prior stroke or TIA 2
Safety Profile
Atorvastatin is generally well-tolerated with a safety profile similar to other statins 3:
- Most common side effects are gastrointestinal symptoms 3
- Elevated liver enzymes may occur, especially at higher doses (2.2% vs 0.5% with placebo) 2
- Risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is low but increases with certain drug interactions 1
- No dosage adjustment required in patients with renal dysfunction 3
Important Considerations
- Atorvastatin should not be used in patients with active liver disease 1
- Drug interactions can occur with medications metabolized by CYP3A4 enzyme 3, 1
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding are contraindications 1
- Regular monitoring of liver function is recommended, especially with higher doses 3
Atorvastatin's ability to significantly reduce cardiovascular events and mortality makes it a cornerstone therapy for both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, particularly in high-risk patients.