If You Have High Cholesterol...
If you have high cholesterol, you may not even know it. People with high cholesterol usually have no symptoms. So you could be at risk even if you’re feeling fine. But a simple blood test can help you and your doctor learn whether your cholesterol is higher than it should be. Don’t put off having your cholesterol checked, as you could be at a higher risk for heart disease.
If you have high cholesterol, you're not alone. More than 1 in 5 adults in the United States has high cholesterol. High cholesterol is one of many risk factors for heart disease. High cholesterol can lead to a heart attack or stroke. About every 34 seconds in the US, someone has a heart attack. 80% of people who have had a heart attack have high cholesterol.
If you have high cholesterol, the first step should be to make meaningful changes in your eating habits and to exercise. Hopefully, diet and exercise alone will be enough. However, for 2 out of 3 people with high cholesterol, diet and exercise may not be enough and a cholesterol-lowering medicine such as LIPITOR may also be necessary.
…LIPITOR May Help
Along with diet and exercise, LIPITOR is proven to lower "bad" cholesterol by 39%-60% (average effect depending on dose).
And LIPITOR, along with diet, is clinically proven to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with heart disease or several common risk factors for heart disease. Common risk factors include family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, low good cholesterol, age, and smoking.
More than 17 million people have been prescribed LIPITOR.* LIPITOR is one of the most widely studied medicines in the world—with more than 19 years of research. It has been studied in over 400 ongoing or completed clinical studies that included over 80,000 patients.†
The Lipitor For You program has tools to help you save money on LIPITOR and stay on track with your treatment. Learn more about money-saving offers and Lipitor For You.
If you have high cholesterol, don't kid yourself about your risk for heart disease. Talk to your doctor about your risk and if LIPITOR is right for you.
*Data Warehouse, SDI, January 2002-March 2010.
†Data on file. Pfizer Inc, New York, NY.
LIPITOR is not for everyone. It is not for those with liver problems. And it is not for women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant.
If you take LIPITOR, tell your doctor if you feel any new muscle pain or weakness. This could be a sign of rare but serious muscle side effects. Tell your doctor about all medications you take. This may help avoid serious drug interactions. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver function before and during treatment and may adjust your dose.
Common side effects are diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and changes in some blood tests.