How should I take atorvastatin?

Take atorvastatin exactly as prescribed by your

doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription
label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose
to make sure you get the best results. Do not use this
medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer
than recommended.
Atorvastatin is usually taken once a day, with or
without food. Take the medicine at the same time
each day.
Do not break or crush a tablet before taking it.
You may need to stop using atorvastatin for a short
time if you have:
uncontrolled seizures;
an electrolyte imbalance (such as high or low
potassium levels in your blood);
severely low blood pressure;
a severe infection or illness; or
surgery or a medical emergency.
While using atorvastatin, you may need frequent
blood tests.
Atorvastatin is only part of a complete treatment
program that may also include diet, exercise, and
weight control. Follow your doctor's instructions very
closely.
Store at room temperature away from moisture,
heat, and light.
See also: Dosage Information (in more detail)
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip
the missed dose if your next dose is less than 12
hours away. Do not take extra medicine to make up
the missed dose.
 Before taking this medicine
You should not use atorvastatin if you are allergic to
it, or if you have:
liver disease; or
if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
To make sure atorvastatin is safe for you, tell your
doctor if you have:
muscle pain or weakness;
history of liver disease;
history of kidney disease;
history of stroke (including TIA or "mini-stroke");
a thyroid disorder; or
if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily.
Atorvastatin can cause a condition that results in the
breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to
kidney failure. This condition may be more likely to
occur in older adults and in people who have kidney
disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism
(underactive thyroid).
This medicine can harm an unborn baby or cause
birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant.
Stop taking atorvastatin and tell your doctor
right away if you become pregnant Use effective
birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are
taking this medicine.
Atorvastatin may pass into breast milk and could
harm a nursing baby. Do not breast-feed while you
are taking this medicine.
Atorvastatin is not approved for use by anyone
younger than 10 years old.

What is atorvastatin?
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Atorvastatin is in a group of drugs called HMG CoA
reductase inhibitors, or "statins." Atorvastatin
reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density
lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood,
while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (high-
density lipoprotein, or HDL).
Atorvastatin is used to treat high cholesterol, and
to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other
heart complications in people with type 2 diabetes,
coronary heart disease, or other risk factors.
Atorvastatin is used in adults and children who are at
least 10 years old.
Important information
You should not take atorvastatin if you are pregnant
or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease.
Stop taking this medication and tell your
doctor right away if you become pregnant.
Serious drug interactions can occur when certain
medicines are used together with atorvastatin. Tell
each of your healthcare providers about all
medicines you use now, and any medicine you start
or stop using.

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In rare cases, atorvastatin can cause a condition that
results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue,
leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away
if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or
weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual
tiredness, and dark colored urine.
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol.
Atorvastatin will not be as effective in lowering your
cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering
diet plan.
Atorvastatin is only part of a complete program of
treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and
weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and
exercise routines very closely.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip
the missed dose if it is almost time for your next
scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make
up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison
Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain,
diarrhea, skin rash, drowsiness, and hyperactivity.
What should I avoid?
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may
be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that
is watery or has blood in it, stop taking Augmentin
and call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop
the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Augmentin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic reaction to Augmentin: hives;
difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips,
 tongue, or throat. Stop using this medicine and call
your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect
such as:
diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it;
pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever,
confusion or weakness;
easy bruising or bleeding;
skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain,
muscle weakness;
agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior,
seizure (convulsions);
nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite,
dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of
the skin or eyes); or
severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in
your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain,
followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads
(especially in the face or upper body) and causes
blistering and peeling.
Less serious Augmentin side effects may include:
mild diarrhea, gas, stomach pain;
nausea or vomiting;
headache;
skin rash or itching;
white patches in your mouth or throat; or
vaginal yeast infection (itching or discharge).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others
may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-
800-FDA-1088.

How should I take Augmentin?

Take Augmentin exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer
than recommended. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
If you switch from one tablet form to another
(regular, chewable, or extended-release tablet), take
only the new tablet form and strength prescribed for
you. The strength of clavulanate potassium is not the
same among the different tablet forms, even though
the amount of amoxicillin may be the same as in the
tablet you were using before. This medicine may not
be as effective or could be harmful if you do not use
the exact tablet form your doctor has prescribed.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water. Take the
medicine at the start of a meal to reduce stomach
upset.
Take the medicine at the same time each day.
The Augmentin tablet should be swallowed whole.
The Augmentin Chewable tablet must be chewed
before swallowing. Do not swallow a chewable tablet
whole.
Do not crush or chew the Augmentin XR (extended-
release) tablet. Swallow the pill whole, or break the
pill in half and take both halves one at a time. If you
have trouble swallowing a whole or half pill, talk with
your doctor about using another form of Augmentin.
Shake the liquid form of this medicine well just
before you measure a dose. To be sure you get the
correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked
measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular
table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring
device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Take Augmentin for the full prescribed length of time.
Your symptoms may improve before the infection is
 completely cleared. Skipping doses may also
increase your risk of further infection that is resistant
to antibiotics. Augmentin will not treat a viral
infection such as the common cold or flu.
Augmentin can cause false results with certain lab
tests for glucose (sugar) in the urine. Tell any doctor
who treats you that you are using Augmentin.
Store Augmentin tablets at room temperature away
from moisture and heat. Store Augmentin liquid in
the refrigerator. Throw away any unused liquid after
10 days.

Before taking this medicine

Do not use Augmentin if you are allergic to
amoxicillin or clavulanate potassium, or if you have
ever had liver problems caused by this medication.
Do not use if you are allergic to any other penicillin
antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin,
Dispermox, Moxatag), ampicillin (Principen, Unasyn),
dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), oxacillin (Bactocill), or
penicillin (Bicillin L-A, PC Pen VK, Pfizerpen)), and
others.
To make sure you can safely take this medicine, tell
your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
liver disease (or a history of hepatitis or jaundice);
kidney disease;
mononucleosis; or
if you are allergic to a cephalosporin antibiotic, such
as cefdinir (Omnicef), cefprozil (Cefzil), cefuroxime
(Ceftin), cephalexin (Keflex), and others.
FDA pregnancy category B. Augmentin is not
expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your
doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant during treatment. Augmentin can make
birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor
about using a non-hormone method of birth control
(such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to
prevent pregnancy while taking Augmentin.
Amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium can pass into
breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use
Augmentin without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding
warnings (in more detail)
The liquid and chewable tablet forms of this
medication may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your
doctor before using these forms of Augmentin if you
have phenylketonuria (PKU).
What is Augmentin?
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Augmentin is a penicillin antibiotic.
Augmentin contains a combination of amoxicillin and
clavulanate potassium. Amoxicillin is an antibiotic in
a group of drugs called penicillins. Amoxicillin fights
bacteria in the body.
Clavulanate potassium is a form of clavulanic acid,
which is similar to penicillin. Clavulanate potassium
fights bacteria that is often resistant to penicillins
and other antibiotics.
Augmentin is used to treat many different infections
caused by bacteria, such as sinusitis, pneumonia, ear
infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and
infections of the skin.
Augmentin may also be used for purposes not listed
in this medication guide.
Important information
Do not use Augmentin if you are allergic to
amoxicillin or clavulanate potassium, or if you have
ever had liver problems caused by this medication.
Do not use if you are allergic to any other penicillin
antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin,
Dispermox, Moxatag), ampicillin (Principen, Unasyn),
dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), oxacillin (Bactocill), or
penicillin (Bicillin L-A, PC Pen VK, Pfizerpen), and
others.