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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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My Doctor Prescribed Lipitor 40mg/day, Can I Take 80mg Alternate Day ?

My doctor prescribed Lipitor 40mg/day, can I take 80mg every other day and safely get the same effect ? I have found capsules on the web for a very low price ($1.60 each) and they can t be split. This would make my daily cost only 80 cents. This is the lowest I have found on the web. If you have found a lower price please include it in your answer.
Sat, 12 Dec 2009
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You won't get a very consistent lipid inhibition in the liver w/ 80mg every other day. I do call on doctors that prescribe statins every other day for patients that are intolerant of statin medication, but for the most part people would agree that a lower dose is more effective if taken consistently every day. You have some other options however if you are concerned w/ cost. I would ask your doctor about generic Zocor. It is called simivastatin. While it may be a little less efficacious than Lipitor, it will still do the trick if you watch your diet and take other lifestyle factors into consideration.
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My Doctor Prescribed Lipitor 40mg/day, Can I Take 80mg Alternate Day ?

You won t get a very consistent lipid inhibition in the liver w/ 80mg every other day. I do call on doctors that prescribe statins every other day for patients that are intolerant of statin medication, but for the most part people would agree that a lower dose is more effective if taken consistently every day. You have some other options however if you are concerned w/ cost. I would ask your doctor about generic Zocor. It is called simivastatin. While it may be a little less efficacious than Lipitor, it will still do the trick if you watch your diet and take other lifestyle factors into consideration.