Lipitor may be the number one best-selling drug in the world, but that doesn't mean one may abandon caution when using it. It is a sensitive drug, which may conflict with other drugs or substances - and it could cause some serious side effects if it is not taken exactly as instructed, by the label or by your physician.

Lipitor works by blocking cholestrol production in the body. Usually this is done because of the urgent need to lower your low-density lipoprotein or LDL - the so-called "bad" cholesterol. Lipitor is taken regularly in order to lower your overall cholesterol count, until with the aid of clean living and a healthy diet, the amount of cholesterol in your body is stabilized. Taking more than the recommended dose may cause some serious repercussions. The same goes for taking extra medication, in case you have missed a dose.

If you have forgotten to take your Lipitor at a specific time, don't take an extra dose to make up for the missed dose. Take the medicine as soon as you remember to do so. But if it is almost time for the next dose, just skip the last dose, and continue with your regular medication schedule.

This medicine may also interact with other substances, so be careful when taking this medicine along with any other drug. If you feel you must start on a new medication routine - especially with medicines containing ketoconazole (Nizoral), erythromycin (E-Mycin or Ery-Tab), niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid), etc. - consult your doctor before doing so. It's always better to be safe than sorry!

Also, avoid drinking alcohol and smoking when taking this medication. The main reason is that smoking and drinking are the two activities which are most notorious for raising one's triglyceride levels, making it difficult for Lipitor to work. If you are taking medication to lower your cholesterol, avoid consuming substances that may spike your cholesterol levels, as this will cancel out the medicine's effectiveness. Drinking liquor while taking this drug may also severely damage your liver.

Lipitor has also been known to cause birth defects if taken by pregnant mothers, so if you are pregnant, avoid taking this medication. It is not known if this medicine passes into breastmilk, but just to be on the safe side, consult your doctor before entering a Lipitor regimen. This medicine was not made for use on children, so make sure to keep it out of their reach.

This medicine may also produce some side effects, which range from mild to serious. If you find yourself experiencing the less serious side effects - such as stomach pain, nausea, heartburn, gas, constipation, rashes, an itchy nose and mild muscle pain - continue taking the medicine, but tell your doctor about them. However, should the more serious side effects strike - i.e. severe muscle pain, fever or flu symptoms, extreme nausea and dark-colored urine - discontinue using lipitor and see your doctor as soon as possible. Lipitor (generic name Atorvastatin) has been known to cause muscle pain, but the risk of these pains turning into a serious condition is very slim.