The body requires cholesterol, a waxy substance, in order to function. Too much cholesterol however, causes arteries to narrow increasing the risk for coronary heart disease, angina and heart attack. Although some patients can manage cholesterol levels by making lifestyle changes, such as following a healthy diet or exercising, others require medications to help lower cholesterol. Lipitor, the brand name for the medication atorvastatin, interferes with the production of cholesterol in the body and helps the body reabsorb the cholesterol built up in the blood vessels. Although useful, this medication can cause a variety of side effects.
Upset Stomach
Information provided by the manufacturer of Lipitor indicates that some patients enrolled in clinical studies experienced stomach upset. The stomach upset included diarrhea for some patients while other experienced constipation. The occurrence of excess gas and nausea also contributed to the side effect of an upset stomach.
Muscle Problems
Lipitor commonly causes mild muscle pains, known as myalgia. Although more rare, it can also cause serious muscle problems. Patients who experience severe muscle aching throughout the body, muscle weakness and dark colored urine may suffer from a condition known as rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis causes muscle cells to breakdown resulting in these symptoms. Doctors at MayoClinic.com report that the higher the dose of Lipitor, the more likely the patient will develop serious muscle problems.
Kidney Failure
The onset of rhabdomyolysis can lead to kidney damage and ultimately kidney failure. As the muscle cells breakdown they release myoglobin -- a protein pigment -- into the bloodstream. The kidneys continually filter the blood to remove excess water and toxins while helping to keep the levels of salts balanced. The presence of myoglobin and the potentially harmful substances it breaks down into can damage the filters in the kidneys causing them to become blocked which can lead to kidney failure. In addition, the presence of dead muscle tissue causes water to move from the blood into the muscles. This reduces the volume of blood causing a reduced flow of blood into the kidneys that can lead to shock, according to MedLinePlus.
Liver Problems
Blood also flows through the liver allowing the liver to regulate the levels of chemicals in the blood, regulate blood clotting and clear the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances. The leaves the liver vulnerable to sustaining damage from medications taken. Therefore, doctors perform blood tests on patients taking Lipitor to monitor the level of liver enzymes to assess liver function.
