Knowing as much as you can about the medicine you take is essential. Below you will find answers to questions about dosing and how to take LIPITOR. Simply click on the question you want to ask to reveal the answer.
Q: How should I take LIPITOR?
A: LIPITOR should be taken by mouth exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Don’t break LIPITOR tablets before taking.
BUT.....my doctor told me it is okay to break the tablet in half now, and take half per day, and he even gave me a pill cutter supplied to him by the drug salesman, so what's going on here. my doc said he never heard of this rule or advice and he has no idea why this would be. So i am asking Lipitor PR department to tell me and so far they are stonewalling me for 5 days and soon the New York Times will turn this into a good medical detective story. I say this as a heart patient taking Lipitor, successfully i might add and very greatful to be alive, but hey, where does truth lie?
"Beatty, Sally"
show details Apr 18 (4 days ago)
All
I am looping in Neena Moorjani for background on this reporter and will suggest that the EU comms team can drop off this email chain unless someone objects
Thanks
http://www.lipitor.com/patients/dosingQuestions.aspx
http://www.lipitor.com
8 comments:
from WIKIPEDIA now
Tablets are white, elliptical, and film coated. .....***Pfizer recommends that patients do not break tablets in half to take half doses even when told it is okay to do this by their doctors, as in most cases, doctors are not aware of the company's recommendation stated on its website.
In some countries, atorvastatin calcium is made in tablet form by generic drug makers under various brand names including Atoris, Atorlip, Lipvas, Sortis, Torvast, Torvacard, Totalip, and Tulip.
Meet the Guy Who Invented Lipitor
By Aaron Rowe August 20, 2008 | 10:05 am | Categories: Uncategorized
Drug discovery is the ultimate form of gambling. Medicinal chemists make billion dollar wagers, and more often than not, they lose.
To bring a new drug to market, big pharmaceutical companies must pick a single chemical and spend a fortune testing it on animals and then in humans. If it is unsafe or ineffective, their entire investment is gone in a flash.
Bruce Roth, the inventor of Lipitor, calls the people who make those tough decisions ‘drug hunters’ and says that it takes between 10 and 15 years to train them.
"Unfortunately, there are some things that are hard to predict," said Roth, during a panel discussion this Monday at the American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia. "We still are not very good at understanding which compounds are going to be successful, and which ones will be toxic."
Roth is now a mentor. He was recruited to lead Genentech, a biotech powerhouse, into the uncertain waters of discovering drugs made from tiny molecules.
During the discussion, Mike Woods of the American Chemical Society asked if new technology could reduce the risks inherent to drug discovery.
"It’s still a very difficult business," said Roth. "As a medicinal chemist, you end up having to learn how to live with failure."
Read More http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/08/meet-the-guy-wh/#ixzz0lqktEW2Q
Hi, I'm about to go to a conference, no time to contact the Atlantic. However I should say that I have no contacts on the business side of the magazine, it's almost certainly isolated from editorial ("separation of church & state"). So if there's a question of false advertising I'd first see what the FDA has to say. If they have approved claims or uses, the question is to change their policy and to ban the claims everywhere. In the current financial state of magazines, there just isn't the staff to investigate and verify ad copy.
Bruce Roth says
"I joined Genentech in May 2007 to lead the Small Molecule Discovery Chemistry Department after 25 years at the Pfizer Ann Arbor site, the last seven as Vice President of Chemistry. I was attracted to Genentech because of its rich culture of scientific excellence and dedication to innovative, ground-breaking research driven by the needs of patients. What I have seen at Genentech during my short tenure is a real commitment to discovering and developing therapies for difficult, life-threatening diseases where medical need is high and often patients are desperate for new medical advances. This commitment is a distinguishing feature that attracted me to Genentech."
Inspiration/Vision
"Early in my career at Parke-Davis, I synthesized the molecule that would ultimately become the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor , currently the largest selling pharmaceutical in the world. Because of this experience, I have met a large number of patients who have benefited from the outstanding work we do in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry and have come to realize that patients are waiting, often desperately, for the hope brought by new drug therapies and that our efforts really can make a difference in the lives of patients. It is my desire, therefore, to build a world-class discovery chemistry department in order to enable Genentech to more rapidly and effectively bring to patients small molecule drugs to treat serious life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, in the hope of helping as many patients as possible."
CalOptima initiated mandatory tablet splitting for Lipitor (atorvastatin) due to well-documented experience showing that half-tablet dosing of Lipitor maintains the same therapeutic benefit and results in substantial cost savings. Lipitor is limited to 15 tablets per month for all strengths (10mg, 20mg, 40mg, and 80mg). To facilitate conversion to half-tablet dosing, a Lipitor Drug Change form is available on CalOptima’s website at click here. Most patients will require a tablet splitter to break Lipitor tablets. Tablet splitters are a covered benefit for CalOptima members, but do require a prescription.
Pharmacists can be reimbursed through the CalOptima Cognitive Services Program for assisting and educating CalOptima members about tablet splitting. Information on this program is available on the website under the Cognitive Services Program at click here. If the patient is unable to utilize half-tablet dosing of Lipitor, please complete a prior authorization of benefits (PAB) form.
CalOptima’s Hyperlipidemia Clinical Guidelines are available on the website at click here. Please note that lovastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin are CalOptima’s preferred first-line statins; a PAB is required for the use of Lipitor in patients who have not tried lovastatin, simvastatin, or pravastatin first.
CalOptima appreciates your assistance in helping us provide care for our members in a cost-effective manner. Monies saved through this program go directly back into patient care. If you have any questions, please contact CalOptima’s Pharmacy Management Department at (714) 246-8471.
Dear dan bloom
Reference # 18850
Thank you for your interest in Genentech. re Bruce Roth and his POV on breaking Lipitor tabs yes or no?
We have forwarded your inquiry Dr Roth and to the appropriate internal group or individual at Genentech. It is our policy not to disclose the contact information of our employees.
Regards,
Genentech Corporate Relations
Genentech, Inc.
1 DNA Way
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Genentech Customer Service:
1-800-551-2231
Genentech Main Telephone:
1-650-225-1000
-----------Original Inquiry-----------
urgent reporter needs locate bruce roth over OKAY TO CUT LIPITOR PILLS IN HALF OR NOT....and why or why not. NEW YORK TIMES to report big story soon on this PZIZEr stonewalling me....why?....http://northwardho.blogspot.com/2010/04/we-are-asking-lipitor-medical-drug-firm.html
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