Lipitor (atorvastatin) has been in use in the U.S. since 1997 (28.5 years). It has been one of the most successful drugs in history, both from the standpoint of efficacy and financial profit. It has been studied and restudied so many times its benefits are well proven.
Lipitor was not the first statin to be on the market. No. It was actually the fifth. In 1987, Merck Pharmaceuticals introduced Mevacor (lovastatin), the first of many HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins. It was followed in 1988 by Zocor (simvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin) in 1991, and Lescol (fluvastatin) in 1994. Statin drugs were an immediate success because they did what they were supposed to do—lower Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the “bad cholesterol”).
When statins first appeared for use, doctors were constantly told there was another statin on the horizon that should be better than any previous statin. That drug was Lipitor. In 1985, The Parke-Davis pharmaceutical company first formulated Lipitor, but the company was acquired by Warner Lambert, and Warner Lambert by Pfizer so when it finally came on the market, it was promoted, or “detailed,” by Pfizer pharmaceutical sales reps. I have always considered Lipitor a Pfizer drug, and even now with many generic formulations, I still do. In the years between 1997 and 2012, Lipitor netted, that’s net profited, over $125 billion. And the reason for its incredible popularity becomes obvious based on the results of the study mentioned below.
In the study to follow, patients with high blood pressure, and no history of coronary disease, TIA, stroke, or angina, were given 10 mg of atorvastatin over a 20-year time period. They were then compared to similar patients who took placebo. The objective was to compare the length of time it took before patients in each group suffered a cardiovascular event—ie. fatal or non-fatal heart attack, stroke, heart failure or any cardiovascular event. All patients were followed for at least 17 years, but some as long as 21 years.
Patients in the atorvastatin group “demonstrated significant reductions in the occurrence of non-fatal heart attack and fatal coronary heart disease, coronary events, and cardiovascular disease mortality,” a significant result. Rates of heart failure, stroke, and total cardiovascular disease events were not affected, however. “Each unit decrease in the level of LDL Cholesterol was associated with a reduction in all cardiovascular disease mortality.”
Lipitor works, both to lower LDL-C and prevent fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events.
Bottom Line: There is “robust evidence” from this and other studies, that taking Lipitor early and for a long time, prevents cardiovascular outcomes. Delays in starting Lipitor therapy result in increased chances for CV events, both non-fatal and fatal, which earlier intervention might have prevented.
DO NOT FEAR TAKING LIPITOR (atorvastatin). It has stood the test of time. It’s benefits far outweigh any adverse symptoms one might experience. However, liver enzymes must be monitored because of the potential liver toxicity of statin drugs. The frequency of liver toxicity, in my experience, was far less than usually advertised. Fortunately, liver enzyme elevations are reversible when Lipitor is temporarily discontinued.
Reference: Rai A. Early Atorvastatin therapy shows sustained cardiovascular benefits over two decades in patients with hypertension. Medscape 2025 April 1.
