Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Nursing Consideration Patient Teaching - Lipitor atorvastatin

atorvastatin calcium
Lipitor

Nursing Considerations
• Atorvastatin is used in patients with
homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments
or alone only if other treatments
aren’t available.
• Atorvastatin may be used with colestipol
or cholestyramine for additive antihyperlipidemic
effects.
• Expect atorvastatin to be used in patients
without obvious coronary artery disease
(CAD) but with multiple risk factors (such
as age 55 or over, smoker, history of
hypertension or low HDL level, or family
history of early CAD). Drug is used to
reduce risk of MI, angina, and adverse
effects of revascularization procedures.
• Also expect drug to be used in patients
with type 2 diabetes who have no obvious
CAD but multiple risk factors, such as
retinopathy, albuminuria, smoking, or
hypertension. Drug is used in these
patients to reduce risk of MI and stroke.
• Expect liver function tests to be performed
before atorvastatin therapy starts, after
6 and 12 weeks, with each dosage increase,
and every 6 months thereafter.
• Expect to measure lipid levels 2 to 4 weeks
after therapy starts, to adjust dosage as
directed, and to repeat periodically until
lipid levels are within desired range.
PATIENT TEACHING
• Stress that atorvastatin is an adjunct to—
not a substitute for—low-cholesterol diet.
• Tell patient to take drug at the same time
each day to maintain its effects.
• Instruct patient to take a missed dose as
soon as possible. If it’s almost time for his
next dose, he should skip the missed dose.
Tell him not to double the dose.
• Instruct patient to consult prescriber
before taking OTC niacin because of
increased risk of rhabdomyolysis.
• Advise patient to notify prescriber immediately
if he develops unexplained muscle
pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if
accompanied by fatigue or fever.
• Be aware that atorvastatin is expensive.
Reinforce the benefits of therapy, and urge
patient to comply if possible.

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