Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Muscle pain or aches (myalgia) — 5–10%
Headache
Nausea
Diarrhea
Elevated liver enzymes (transaminases)
Arthralgia (joint pain)
Fatigue
Nasopharyngitis
Rhabdomyolysis (rare, severe muscle breakdown — can cause kidney failure)
Myopathy (muscle disease)
Autoimmune inflammatory myopathy (rare)
Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)
Increased blood glucose / new-onset diabetes (small risk)
Tendon damage
Peripheral neuropathy
Memory loss or confusion (reversible)
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Lupus-like syndrome
Interstitial lung disease
Like all medications, Atorvastatin can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: