Atorvastatin Pregnancy and Breast Feeding Warnings
Atorvastatin is also known as: Lipitor
Overview
Do not use Atorvastatin if you are pregnant. It may cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. It is not known if Atorvastatin is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Atorvastatin .
Atorvastatin Pregnancy Warnings
Atorvastatin has been assigned to pregnancy category X by the FDA. Animal studies have not revealed evidence of teratogenicity. However, other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have been associated with teratogenic effects. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Atorvastatin use is considered contraindicated in pregnancy.
Doses of 20, 100, or 225 mg/kg/day of atorvastatin from day 7 of gestation through day 21 of weaning resulted in decreased pup survival at birth, developmental delays, and pinnae detachment and eye opening alterations. Other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have been associated with increased fetal skeletal malformations. Additionally, the VATER association (vertebral anomalies, anal atresia, esophageal fistula with esophageal atresia, renal and radial dysplasia) was reported in an infant girl whose mother received lovastatin 10 mg daily and dextroamphetamine 10 mg daily during the first trimester of pregnancy for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and progressive weight gain. Both drugs were discontinued five weeks later, at approximately 9 weeks gestation, when pregnancy was confirmed.
Atorvastatin Lactation Warnings
There are no data on the excretion of atorvastatin into human milk. The manufacturer recommends that due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Based on animal data, atorvastatin is likely to be excreted into human milk. Nursing animal pups of mothers administered atorvastatin had plasma and liver drug levels 50% and 40%, respectively, of that of their mother's milk.
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