Torvastin® For Patients

Torvastin® is a lipid-lowering medicine.

Atorvastatin, the active ingredient of Torvastin® belongs to the group of medicines that lower elevated blood lipids.

Atorvastatin is indicated as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and triglycerides in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia, such as heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia and combined (mixed) hyperlipidaemia (Fredrickson types IIa and IIb), when diet and other non-pharmacological measures are inadequate. Atorvastatin is also indicated to reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g. LDL apheresis) or when treatments are not available.

Before taking Torvastin® the patient should follow a standard lipid-lowering diet, which he or she should continue during treatment with Torvastin®. The usual starting dose is 10mg once a day. The dose should be individualised based on baseline LDL–cholesterol levels, the goal of therapy and the patient’s response. Dose adjustment should be made at intervals of 4 weeks or more. The maximum dose is 80mg once a day. The medicine must be given as a single dose and may be taken at any time of the day, with food or on an empty stomach.

Primary hypercholesterolaemia and combined (mixed) hyperlipidaemia:

The majority of patients are controlled with 10mg of Torvastin® once daily. Treatment results are seen within 2 weeks, while the maximum therapeutic response is usually achieved within 4 weeks and is maintained as long as the patient takes the medicine.

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia:

Treatment starts with 10mg Torvastin® daily. Doses should be individualised and adjusted every 4 weeks up to 40mg daily. Thereafter, either the dose is increased to a maximum of 80mg daily or 40mg of TORVASTIN is given once a day in combination with an ion exchange resin.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia:

The dose of Torvastin® in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia is 10 to 80mg daily. TORVASTIN should be given to these patients as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g. LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are not available.

Children:

Paediatric use should be recommended only by specialists. Experience in children is limited to a small number of patients (aged 4–17 years) with severe dyslipidaemias, such as homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. The recommended starting dose in this population is 10mg. The dose may be increased up to 80mg daily, according to the patient’s response and tolerability. Safety data regarding development in this patient population have not been evaluated.

Elderly:

The efficacy and safety of the medicine in patients older than 70 years, when the recommended doses are used, are similar to those observed in the general population.

Dosage in patients with renal impairment:

No modification of the dosage regimen is needed.

If you take a larger dose of Torvastin® than normal:

In cases of overdose with Torvastin® there is no specific treatment. If this occurs, the patient should be treated symptomatically and appropriate supportive measures should be applied, as required. Assessment of liver function tests and CPK levels is needed. Haemodialysis is not expected to significantly improve the clearance of atorvastatin.

(Poison Control Centre telephone (Athens): 210 7793777).

If you forget to take Torvastin®:

If you miss a dose you should take it as soon as possible. If, however, it is almost time for the next dose, do not take the dose you missed but continue treatment as normal. Do not double the doses.

If you stop taking Torvastin®:

You should take Torvastin® for as long as your doctor prescribes it. Do not stop treatment without first discussing it with your doctor.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Find the full package leaflet of Torvastin® here