Lipitor is a medication used to treat high cholesterol levels in the blood. According to the American College of Cardiology (ACC) guidelines [3], the frequency of Lipitor dosage evaluation should be based on the patient's individual needs and circumstances. The guidelines recommend that healthcare providers evaluate patients' cholesterol levels every 4 to 12 weeks after starting Lipitor therapy or adjusting the dosage. Once the patient's cholesterol levels have stabilized, the frequency of Lipitor dosage evaluation can be reduced to every 3 to 12 months. However, the frequency of dosage evaluation should be increased if the patient experiences any adverse effects or changes in their health status.
The Drug Patent Watch [1] website provides information on the patent status of Lipitor, but it does not provide information on the frequency of Lipitor dosage evaluation.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) book [2] "Statins in General Practice: Pocketbook" also provides guidance on Lipitor dosage evaluation. The book recommends that patients who are starting Lipitor therapy or changing their dosage should have their cholesterol levels evaluated after 4 to 6 weeks. Once the cholesterol levels have stabilized, the frequency of Lipitor dosage evaluation can be reduced to every 6 to 12 months. The book also notes that patients with comorbidities or who are taking other medications that may interact with Lipitor may require more frequent dosage evaluation.
In conclusion, the frequency of Lipitor dosage evaluation should be based on the patient's individual needs and circumstances. The ACC guidelines recommend evaluating patients' cholesterol levels every 4 to 12 weeks after starting Lipitor therapy or adjusting the dosage and reducing the frequency to every 3 to 12 months once the cholesterol levels have stabilized. Patients with comorbidities or who are taking other medications that may interact with Lipitor may require more frequent dosage evaluation.
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/LIPITOR
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430779/
[3] https://www.acc.org/~/media/Non-Clinical/Files-PDFs-Excel-MS-Word-etc/Guidelines/2018/Guidelines-Made-Simple-Tool-2018-Cholesterol.pdf