Lipitor (atorvastatin) is used to treat high cholesterol and lower the risk of cardiovascular problems. Learn about side effects, generic, dosage, uses, and more. Overview: Atorvastatin is used to treat high cholesterol levels and to lower your risk of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. It works by decreasing the amount of cholesterol made by your. 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 is used together with a proper diet to lower cholesterol and triglyceride (fats) levels in the blood. This medicine may help prevent medical problems (eg, chest pain, heart attack, or stroke) that are caused by fats clogging the blood vessels. Lipitor is used to treat high cholesterol. Learn about side effects, interactions and indications. 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] LIPITOR is a prescription medicine that contains a cholesterol lowering medicine (statin) called atorvastatin. LIPITOR is used: heart attack, stroke, certain types of heart surgery and chest pain in adults who do not have heart disease but have other multiple risk factors for heart disease.