Atorvastatin: safety and tolerability.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Atorvastatin is the most widely used statin administered in a variety of settings, including primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, in the elderly, in patients with chronic kidney disease and in diabetic patients. Therefore, the safety and tolerability of atorvastatin is of paramount importance. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: We searched MEDLINE for literature published between 1997 and 2010 on the safety and tolerability of atorvastatin. We retrieved data from randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, post-marketing studies, reports to regulatory bodies and case reports of rare adverse events. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: The reader will gain insight into the incidence, severity, prevention and management of the major adverse effects of atorvastatin (i.e., liver function abnormalities and muscle-related side effects) overall and in special populations. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: The existing data suggest that atorvastatin is generally well tolerated across the range of its therapeutic dosage (10 - 80 mg/day).