Drug of the Day: Atorvastatin(Drug of the Day Series – PharmaEasyNotes)

If you are a B.Pharm / D.Pharm student, chances are you’ve already heard about cholesterol and heart diseases.

But do you know which drug is most commonly prescribed to control high cholesterol?

👉 Atorvastatin – today’s Drug of the Day.

🔍 Basic Information

Drug Name: Atorvastatin

Drug Class: HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin)

Category: Antihyperlipidemic drug

📌 Most prescribed drug for high cholesterol worldwide.

🧠 Mechanism of Action (Very Easy)

Atorvastatin works by:

✔ Inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase enzyme

✔ Reducing cholesterol synthesis in liver

✔ Lowering LDL (bad cholesterol)

✔ Slightly increasing HDL (good cholesterol)

👉 Result: Reduced risk of heart attack and stroke

🫀 Therapeutic Uses

Atorvastatin is used in:

Hypercholesterolemia

Prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Coronary artery disease

Stroke prevention

📌 Commonly prescribed in diabetic and hypertensive patients.

💊 Dosage (General)

Usual dose: 10–80 mg once daily

Taken orally, preferably in the evening

⚠️ Dose may vary depending on patient condition.

🚨 Common Side Effects

Muscle pain (myalgia)

Headache

Mild gastrointestinal upset

Elevated liver enzymes

📌 Important exam point:

Severe muscle pain may indicate rhabdomyolysis (rare).

❌ Contraindications

Liver disease

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Hypersensitivity to statins

🧪 Why Atorvastatin is Important for Pharmacy Students?

✔ Frequently asked in pharmacology exams

✔ Common drug in hospital & retail pharmacy

✔ Used in clinical case studies

✔ Strong industry relevance

If you understand Atorvastatin, you understand statins as a class.

✍️ Exam Tip (Score Booster 🔥)

One-line exam answer:

Atorvastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used to lower LDL cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular diseases.

💬 Question for you:

Which statin do you find most confusing?

👉 Atorvastatin / Rosuvastatin / Simvastatin

Comment below 👇