Doctors commonly prescribe statins like Lipitor because of their ability to lower cholesterol levels and risks of cardiovascular events. Patients should closely follow the instructions included on the prescription label to ensure the effectiveness of the medicine. Atorvastatin belongs to the group of medicines called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins. It works by blocking an enzyme that is needed by the body to make cholesterol, and this reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. Rosuvastatin (Crestor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor) are both statins that lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people at increased cardiovascular risk. Atorvastatin tablets are available as brand-name Lipitor and a generic. There's also a liquid form that only comes as brand name Atorvaliq. It's possible to have side effects like muscle pain, joint pain, and stomach upset. Most times, atorvastatin (Lipitor) is taken along with a heart-healthy diet to get the most benefits from treatment. Generic atorvastatin is covered by most Medicare and insurance plans, but some pharmacy coupons or cash prices may be lower. Get Atorvastatin for as low as $7.46, which is 91% off the average retail price of $80.33 for the most common version, by using a GoodRx coupon. Atorvastatin is commonly used to lower bad cholesterol levels (LDL-C) and fats (triglycerides) in the blood. It also increases good cholesterol levels (HDL). Improving your cholesterol. Lipitor is a prescription medicine used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications. Learn about dosage, side effects, drug interactions, warnings, and more. Atorvastatin, sold under the brand name Lipitor among others, is a statin medication used to prevent cardiovascular disease in those at high risk and to treat abnormal lipid levels. [7]. For the prevention of cardiovascular disease, statins are a first-line treatment in reducing cholesterol. [7]. It is taken by mouth. [7] This medicine is available as: atorvastatin 10 mg tablets, atorvastatin 20 mg tablets, atorvastatin 40 mg tablet, 80 mg tablets. The original brand name of atorvastatin was Lipitor, and now it is also available as a generic. Generic version: Lipitor is available in a generic form called atorvastatin. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication.