Patient/caregiver was educated on the precautions to be observed while taking atorvastatin as follows:
- Observe compliance with regular labs ordered for hepatic function. Atorvastatin carries a risk of liver damage and compromised liver function and so, should be very cautiously used and liver function closely monitored. Also, if liver function is deficient, metabolism and excretion of atorvastatin could be slowed down. Slowing down of the drug metabolism and excretion can result in increased risk for toxicity and side-effects of the medication.
- Use of atorvastatin carries a small chance of skeletal muscle injury and breakdown. Protein molecules released into the blood from this skeletal muscle injury enter the kidney to be eliminated in urine. But, as these molecules are large, they will not be filtered through the kidneys into the urine and get blocked, thus damaging the kidneys and leading to kidney failure. Notify your doctor, if you experience any unexplained muscle pain, malaise, and weakness.
- Keep a watch on the volume of urine output, at least for the initial one month or two of starting on this medication and periodically later on. Void into a urinal and keeping a log of the volume and the color of the urine can significantly help. Report to your physician, in case any findings of gross diminishing in 24-hour urine volume and consistently concentrated dark urine have been noted. Notify your doctor, if you also experience any other symptoms of compromised renal function, such as, fluid retention, edema, and abnormal weight gain. Observe compliance with regular labs ordered for renal function evaluation.
