Atorvastatin

Question 1

Class of drug?

Answer 1

Statin

Question 2

MOA

Answer 2

Inhibits HMG-reductase. This is the rate limiting enzyme for the production of cholesterol.

Question 3

Drug-drug interactions?

Answer 3

Amiodarone, diltazem, macrolides
Amplodipine
All increase the plasma statin
If CYP3A4 is inhibited all of these drugs included the increased statin will take longer to be metabolised. Longer lasting effect

As statins are taken everyday, it can be suitable to stop them for a few days when an antibiotic such as macroslides need to be taken

Question 4

Common indications

Question 5

Adverse drug reactions?

Answer 5

GI disruption, Headaches,Nausea- common trio
Myalgia- nocebo effect, if tell patients that this is a side effect, it’s more likely that they will report having it later
Rarely rhabdomyolysis