Yes, you do need a prescription for Lipitor.

When you are sourcing your essential medications for which your doctor has written a prescription, beware of anyone that offers to supply the drugs without sighting a copy of that prescription. Even if this is simply a repeat prescription and you have previously shown the pharmacy the original, it is completely illegal, as well as dangerous, to obtain the medicines from an outlet that will supply without a valid current prescription.

Having dealt with the basic question, we will tell you a bit more about what Lipitor is, and what it does. From this, you should have developed a better understanding of just why you need to only buy your Lipitor from a reputable and reliable pharmacy like IsraelPharm.

What is Lipitor Prescribed For?

Lipitor (generic name: atorvastatin calcium) is a medicine in a class of drugs called statins which commonly are the drug of first choice that doctors prescribe for people with high cholesterol levels.

Statins are designed to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks especially in people with high cholesterol along with conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, or a history of smoking.

Doctors prescribe this drug for patients who are unable to lower their cholesterol sufficiently with a low-fat diet and an exercise program. 

Lipitor reduces the need for hospitalization for congestive heart failure, and surgical bypass procedures in individuals with coronary artery disease. It also prevents heart attacks and strokes in patients with type 2 diabetes with multiple risk factors for coronary artery disease.

How Does Lipitor Work?

Lipitor selectively blocks the production of cholesterol in the body. This drug specifically targets “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein – LDL) along with total triglycerides in the blood. As well, it works to boost the levels of “good” cholesterol (high-density  lipoproteins – HDL).

Are There Any Side Effects of Lipitor?

Atorvastatin is generally well tolerated. Minor side effects have been reported, but they generally clear up within a few days. They may include:

• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Gas and heartburn
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Mild muscle pain

Atorvastatin may cause liver and muscle damage, but serious liver damage caused by statins is rare. Liver tests are usually requested by doctors at the beginning of treatment and may be as needed thereafter. 

There have been reports in less than one percent of all patients taking statins of a condition known as rhabdomyolysis resulting from inflammation of the muscles caused by statins. Rhabdomyolysis causes the release of muscle protein (myoglobin) into the blood, and myoglobin can cause kidney failure and even death. Patients taking Lipitor are advised to contact their health care professional immediately if they develop unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or muscle tenderness.

Atorvastatin is used for the treatment of elevated total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides and to elevate HDL cholesterol. The effectiveness of atorvastatin in lowering cholesterol is dose-related, meaning that higher doses reduce cholesterol more. Your doctor will have prescribed the appropriate dosage based on your own specific conditions and all associated facts.

The following forms are Lipitor are available from IsraelPharm:

FAQ

I used to be able to buy Lipitor over-the-counter. Why can’t I get it without a prescription anymore?

Way back in 2011, drug company Pfizer reached the end of the twenty year patent protection period of Lipitor. In an effort to keep its sales of this “blockbuster” medication booming in the face of generic competition, Pfizer conducted a trial in order to prove that Lipitor could be sold over the counter without prescription. The result of this trial was a proof that most patients are not safe when self-medicating with a drug such as Lipitor which is vital in serious conditions such as diabetes and heart failure. The FDA now insists that Lipitor and other similar drugs must be dispensed only against a doctor’s prescription.

Now you can buy branded Lipitor and its generic form of atorvastatin from IsraelPharm by visiting our website here.