Safety and tolerability of the use of atorvastatin 40 mg in common daily practice in short-term observation in 3,227 patients.

Abstract Statins reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality but their administration is associated with a broad array of potential adverse effects. The aim of the study was to assess the safety and tolerability of the use of atorvastatin in the dose of 40 mg a day during short-term observation in daily practice--in outpatient clinics, specialized individual practice offices and in-patient health care units. A prospective authorial interviewer questionnaire-based study comprised 3,227 consecutive patients who were already administered 40 mg of atorvastatin a day or just started the therapy. The mean follow-up was 38 +/- 13 days. Fifty two patients (1.6% of all study participants) interrupted atorvastatin therapy due to drug-related adverse effects, which comprised mainly increased liver transaminases (0.4%) and myalgia (0.5%). In many of those patients complex side reactions were observed concerning mostly gastrointestinal disturbances (1.2%). No cases of rhabdomyolysis were reported. As many as 160 individuals (5.0%) did not continue the therapy due to economical issues, personal belief or low awareness of cardiovascular diseases and their potential complications. Atorvastatin in daily dose of 40 mg is a safe and well tolerable medication for the treatment for dyslipidemic disorders in patients of different clinic profile and cardiovascular risk groups in common medical practice.