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What happens if you take expired atorvastatin?
Taking them after their expiration dates could cause a serious health risk or consequence because the medications are not as effective. Very sensitive to heat and moisture. Breaks down quickly and could fail to stop a heart attack. Breaks down quickly after the expiration date, making it less effective.
Is it OK to take expired statins?
A: It’s really not a good idea to take expired medication at all. The company that manufactures a particular drug works with the regulatory authority to confirm and guarantee that the medicine will still be active in the amount on the label up to expiration time.
How long do Lipitor pills last?
The elimination half life of atorvastatin is approximately 14 hours. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce plasma drug levels by half. It takes approximately 5.5 x elimination half lives for a medicine to be out of ones system.
How long can you keep atorvastatin?
How long will I take atorvastatin for? Usually, treatment with a statin such as atorvastatin is for life. The benefits will only continue for as long as you take it. If you stop taking atorvastatin without starting a different treatment, your cholesterol level may rise again.
Why take Lipitor if my cholesterol is normal?
Statins help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, in the blood. They draw cholesterol out of plaque and stabilize plaque, Blaha says.
What happens if expired medicine is taken?
Expired medical products can be less effective or risky due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength. Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance.
How long does a half dose of Lipitor last?
The mean half-life for metabolism (i.e. how quickly a half dose is eliminated from the bloodstream) of this medication is 14 hours. The drug metabolises into two active metabolite forms – orthohydroxy and parahydroxy and contributes to about 70% drug activity.
How long does it take for a drug to expire?
The drug company then proposes an expiration date to the FDA, which reviews the data to ensure they support the date and then approves it. Despite the difference in drugs’ makeup, most “expire” after two or three years. Once a drug is launched, the makers run tests to ensure it continues to be effective up to its labeled expiration date.
Which is better for lipid reduction atorvastatin or Lipitor?
Atorvastatin / Lipitor does have a longer half-life, meaning that lipid reduction is effective over an extended period of time. Should tolerance of the medication be something of an issue for a patient, an alternate day dosage strategy can be considered.
Is the expiration date on a drug a misnomer?
Gerona, a pharmacist; and Cantrell, a toxicologist, knew that the term “expiration date” was a misnomer. The dates on drug labels are simply the point up to which the Food and Drug Administration and pharmaceutical companies guarantee their effectiveness, typically at two or three years.