Lipitor & LDL

When your cholesterol is high, you are at risk for developing heart disease. Elevated low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol is a marker for an increased risk for atherosclerosis. Although cholesterol can be reduced with diet and exercise, it may not always be enough. If your LDL cholesterol is above 160 mg/dL, your doctor may prescribe some cholesterol-lowering medicine. Lipitor is one of the more commonly prescribed medicines to lower LDL.

Lipitor

Lipitor is a cholesterol-lowering medication known as a statin. Statins are prescribed to lower your LDL cholesterol and are beneficial because they can help to lower your LDL cholesterol without causing too many harsh side effects. In general, statins have been reported to cause mild stomach discomfort, constipation or diarrhea, joint pain and headaches.

Function

Lipitor works in two distinct ways to help lower your blood LDL levels. First, it inhibits your body's own production of cholesterol. It also increases the intake of LDL by your body's cells. Your cells take in LDL cholesterol from the blood when they need it for various functions. This is done through small receptors on the outside of your cells. Lipitor increases the activity of these LDL receptors, which causes them to take in more LDL, redirecting it from the blood and into your cells.

Taking Lipitor

According to the National Institutes of Health, your doctor starts by prescribing a low dose of Lipitor that is gradually increased every few weeks. It should be taken at the same time each day and can be taken before or after eating. Your doctor will tell you how much and how often to take the medication.

Effectiveness

According to a study published by the "Institute of Drug Discovery Research" in Japan in 2001, Lipitor may be the most effective way to manage blood cholesterol. This study analyzed 11 different clinical trials pertaining to the action of different cholesterol-lowering mechanisms. In general, Lipitor was found to be the best way to reduce blood LDL levels.