Atorvastatin, sold under the brand name Lipitor among others, is a statin medication used to prevent cardiovascular disease in those at high risk and treat abnormal lipid levels.^[2] For the prevention of cardiovascular disease, statins are a first-line treatment.^[2] It is taken by mouth.^[2]

Common side effects include joint pain, diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, and muscle pains.^[2] Serious side effects may include rhabdomyolysis, liver problems, and diabetes.^[2] Use during pregnancy may harm the baby.^[2] Like all statins, atorvastatin works by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme found in the liver that plays a role in producing cholesterol.^[2]

Atorvastatin was patented in 1986, and approved for medical use in the United States in 1996.^[2][3] It is available as a generic medication.^[2] In the United States, the wholesale cost per month is about US$3.80 as of 2018.^[4] In the United Kingdom, it costs the NHS about £0.70 per month as of 2018.^[5] In 2017, it was the second most prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 104 million prescriptions