Patient leaflet - ATORVASTATIN 4 MG / ML ORAL SUSPENSION
Atorvastatin 4mg/ml Oral Suspension
Atorvastatin calcium trihydrate 3
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information
for you.
n Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
n If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
n This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
n If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
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1. What Atorvastatin Oral Suspension is and what it is used for
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2. What you need to know before you take Atorvastatin Oral Suspension
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3. How to take Atorvastatin Oral Suspension
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4. Possible side effects
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5. How to store Atorvastatin Oral Suspension
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6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. what atorvastatin oral suspension is and what it is used for
The name of this medicine is Atorvastatin 4 mg/ml Oral Suspension (called atorvastatin in this leaflet). Atorvastatin belongs to a group of medicines known as statins, which are lipid (fat) regulating medicines.
Atorvastatin is used to lower lipids known as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood when a low fat diet and life style changes on their own have failed. If you are at an increased risk of heart disease, atorvastatin can also be used to reduce such risk even if your cholesterol levels are normal. You should maintain a standard cholesterol lowering diet during treatment.
2. what you need to know before you take atorvastatin oral suspension
Do not take Atorvastatin:
n if you are allergic to atorvastatin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6) n if you have or have ever had a disease which affects the liver
n if you have had any unexplained abnormal blood tests for liver function
n if you are a woman able to have children and not using reliable contraception
n if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant n if you are breast-feeding
n if you use the combination of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in the treatment of hepatitis C
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Atorvastatin:
n if you have severe respiratory failure
n if you are taking or have taken in the last 7 days a medicine called fusidic acid, (a medicine for bacterial infection) orally or by injection. The combination of fusidic acid and Atorvastatin can lead to serious muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis)
n if you have had a previous stroke with bleeding into the brain, or have small pockets of fluid in n the brain from previous strokes
n if you have kidney problems
n if you have an under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
n if you have had repeated or unexplained muscle aches or pains, a personal history or family history of muscle problems n if you have had previous muscular problems during treatment with other lipid-lowering
n medicines (e.g. other ‘-statin’ or ‘-fibrate’ medicines)
n if you regularly drink a large amount of alcohol
n if you have a history of liver disease n if you are older than 70 years
If any of these apply to you, your doctor will need to carry out a blood test before and possibly during your Atorvastatin treatment to predict your risk of muscle related side effects. The risk of muscle related side effects e.g. rhabdomyolysis is known to increase when certain medicines are taken at the same time (see section 2 “Other medicines and Atorvastatin”). Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have a muscle weakness that is constant. Additional tests and medicines may be needed to diagnose and treat this. While you are on this medicine your doctor will monitor you closely if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes. You are likely to be at risk of developing diabetes if you have high levels of sugars and fats in your blood, are overweight and have high blood pressure.
Other medicines and Atorvastatin
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. There are some medicines that may change the effect of Atorvastatin or their effect may be changed by Atorvastatin. This type of interaction could make one or both of the medicines less effective. Alternatively it could increase the risk or severity of side-effects, including the important muscle wasting condition known as rhabdomyolysis described in section 4:
n Medicines used to alter the way your immune system works, e.g. ciclosporin
n Certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines, e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, rifampin, fusidic acid
n Other medicines to regulate lipid levels, e.g. gemfibrozil, other fibrates, colestipol
n Some calcium channel blockers used for angina or high blood pressure, e.g. amlodipine, diltiazem; medicines to regulate your heart rhythm e.g. digoxin, verapamil, amiodarone
n Letermovir, a medicine that helps stop you from getting ill from cytomegalovirus
n Medicines used in the treatment of HIV e.g. ritonavir, lopinavir, atazanavir, indinavir, darunavir, the combination of tipranavir/ritonavir etc.
n Some medicines used in the treatment of hepatitis C e.g. telaprevir, boceprevir and the combination of elbasvir/grazoprevir n Other medicines known to interact with Atorvastatin include ezetimibe (which lowers cholesterol), warfarin (which reduces blood clotting), oral contraceptives, stiripentol (an anti-convulsant for epilepsy), cimetidine (used for heartburn and peptic ulcers), phenazone (a painkiller), colchicine (used to treat gout), and antacids (indigestion products containing aluminium or magnesium)
n Medicines obtained without a prescription: St John’s Wort
n If you need to take oral fusidic acid to treat a bacterial infection you will need to temporarily stop using this medicine. Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to restart Atorvastatin. Taking Atorvastatin with fusidic acid may rarely lead to muscle weakness, tenderness or pain (rhabdomyolysis). See more information regarding rhabdomyolysis in section 4.
Atorvastatin with food and drink
See section 3 for instructions on how to take Atorvastatin. Please note the following:
Grapefruit juice
Do not take more than one or two small glasses of grapefruit juice per day because large quantities of grapefruit juice can change the effects of Atorvastatin.
Alcohol
Avoid drinking too much alcohol while taking this medicine. You should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. See section 2 “Warnings and precautions” for details.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take Atorvastatin if you are pregnant, or if you are trying to become pregnant.
Do not take Atorvastatin if you are able to become pregnant unless you use reliable contraceptive measures.
Do not take Atorvastatin if you are breast-feeding.
The safety of Atorvastatin during pregnancy and breast-feeding has not yet been proven. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Normally this medicine does not affect your ability to drive or operate machines. However, do not drive if this medicine affects your ability to drive. Do not use any tools or machines if your ability to use them is affected by this medicine.
Atorvastatin Oral Suspension contains methyl, ethyl and propyl parahydroxybenzoate, and benzyl alcohol.
n Methyl, ethyl and propyl parahydroxybenzoate. May cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
n This medicine contains 0.39 pg benzyl alcohol (E1519) in each 1 ml dose. Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you are pregnant or breast-feeding or if you have a liver of kidney disease. This is because large amounts of benzyl alcohol can build-up in your body and may cause side effects (called “metabolic acidosis”).
n This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per ml, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. how to take atorvastatin oral suspension
Before starting treatment, your doctor will place you on a low-cholesterol diet, which you should maintain also during therapy with Atorvastatin.
The usual starting dose of Atorvastatin is 10 mg (2.5ml) once a day in adults and children aged 10 years or older. This may be increased if necessary by your doctor until you are taking the amount you need. Your doctor will adapt the dose at intervals of 4 weeks or more. The maximum dose of Atorvastatin is 80 mg (20ml) once a day.
Atorvastatin Oral Suspension can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. However, try to take your dose at the same time every day.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Instructions for use
The oral suspension must be shaken well before use
n Open the bottle: press the cap and turn it anticlockwise (figure 1)
n Separate the adaptor from the syringe (figure 2).
Insert the adaptor into the bottle neck (figure 3).
Ensure it is well fixed.
n Take the syringe and put it in the adaptor opening (figure 4). Turn the bottle upside down (figure 5).
n Fill the syringe with a small amount of suspension by pulling the piston down (figure 5A), then push the piston upward in order to remove any possible bubble (figure 5B).
Pull the piston down to the graduation mark corresponding to the quantity in milliliters (ml) prescribed by your doctor (figure 5C).
n Turn the bottle the right way up (figure 6A).
Remove the syringe from the adaptor (figure 6B).
Close the bottle with the plastic screw cap.
Empty the contents of the syringe into your mouth (figure 7).
After dosing, wash the syringe with water only (figure 8).
The duration of treatment with Atorvastatin Oral suspension is determined by your doctor.
Please ask your doctor if you think that the effect of Atorvastatin is too strong or too weak.
If you take more Atorvastatin Oral Suspension than you should
If you accidently take too many Atorvastatin Oral Suspension (more than your usual daily dose), contact your doctor or nearest hospital for advice.
If you forget to take Atorvastatin Oral Suspension
If you forget to take a dose, just take your next scheduled dose at the correct time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Atorvastatin Oral Suspension
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine or wish to stop your treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of the following serious side effects or symptoms, stop taking your dose and tell your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital accident and emergency department.
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
n Serious allergic reaction which causes swelling of the face, tongue and throat that can cause great difficulty in breathing.
n Serious illness with severe peeling and swelling of the skin, blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes, genitals and fever.
Skin rash with pink-red blotches especially on palms of hands or soles of feet which may blister.
n Muscle weakness, tenderness, pain, rupture or red-brown discolouration of urine and particularly, if at the same time, you feel unwell or have a high temperature it may be caused by an abnormal muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis). The abnormal muscle breakdown does not always go away, even after you have stopped taking atorvastatin, and it can be life-threatening and lead to kidney problems.
Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
n If you experience problems with unexpected or unusual bleeding or bruising, this may be suggestive of a liver complaint. You should consult your doctor as soon as possible.
n Lupus-like disease syndrome (including rash, joint disorders and effects on blood cells).
Other possible side effects with Atorvastatin
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
n inflammation of the nasal passages, pain in the throat, nose bleed
n allergic reactions
n increases in blood sugar levels (if you have diabetes continue careful monitoring of your blood
n sugar levels), increase in blood creatine kinase
n headache
n nausea, constipation, wind, indigestion, diarrhoea
n joint pain, muscle pain and back pain
n blood test results that show your liver function can become abnormal
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
n anorexia (loss of appetite), weight gain, decreases in blood sugar levels (if you have diabetes you should continue careful monitoring of your blood sugar levels)
n having nightmares, insomnia
n dizziness, numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes, reductions of sensation to pain or touch, change in sense of taste, loss of memory
n blurred vision
n ringing in the ears and/or head
n vomiting, belching, abdominal pain upper and lower, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas leading to stomach pain) n hepatitis (liver inflammation)
n rash, skin rash and itching, hives, hair loss
n neck pain, muscle fatigue
n fatigue, feeling unwell, weakness, chest pain, swelling especially in the ankles (oedema), raised temperature
n urine tests that are positive for white blood cells
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
n visual disturbance
n unexpected bleeding or bruising
n cholestasis (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
n tendon injury
Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
n an allergic reaction – symptoms may include sudden wheezing and chest pain or tightness, swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, collapse
n hearing loss
n gynecomastia (breast enlargement in men).
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data: Muscle weakness that is constant.
Possible side effects reported with some statins (medicines of the same type):
n Sexual difficulties
n Depression
n Breathing problems including persistent cough and/or shortness of breath or fever
n Diabetes. This is more likely if you have high levels of sugars and fats in your blood, are overweight and have high blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor you while you are taking this medicine.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme
at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store atorvastatin oral suspension
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Keep the bottle in the outer carton in order to protect from light. Do not freeze.
Unopened bottle: Do not store above 25°C.
After first opening the bottle: Do not store above 25°C. Discard after 60 days of first opening.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and bottle label after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not use this medicine if you notice that the suspension becomes discoloured or shows any signs of deterioration. Seek the advice of your pharmacist.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What Atorvastatin Oral Suspension contains
n The active substance(s) is atorvastatin. Each ml of oral suspension contains 4 mg of atorvastatin (as 4.14 mg atorvastatin calcium trihydrate)
n The other ingredients are carmellose sodium (E466), magnesium aluminium silicate, methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E214), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), sucralose, acesulfame potassium (E950), orange flavour (501071 AP0551) (containing flavouring preparation, flavouring substances, natural flavouring substances, maize maltodextrin, E 307 Alpha-tocopherol, moisture and benzyl alcohol) and purified water.
What Atorvastatin Oral Suspension looks like and contents of the pack
Atorvastatin Oral Suspension is a white to Brownish white suspension.
Atorvastatin 4mg/ml Oral Suspension is packaged in amber glass bottle, with a Polypropylene white child resistant closure tamper evident expanded polyethylene (TEEPE), containing 150ml of liquid product.
The package contains a 5ml oral syringe with a polypropylene body, purple HDPE plunger and graduations printed at every 0.5ml, with a low density polyethylene bottle adaptor.
The Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer is:
The Marketing Authorisation Holder is:
Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Yorkdale Industrial Park, Braithwaite Street, Leeds, LS11 9XE, UK.
Tel: + 44 (0) 113 244 1400
The Manufacturer is:
LM Manufacturing Limited, Sandretto Building, Cavalry Hill Industrial Park, Weedon, Northampton,
NN7 4PP, United Kingdom
This leaflet was last revised in January 2022.
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