Cholesterol levels can increase rapidly after stopping Lipitor, a medication used to lower cholesterol levels in the body. Lipitor is a brand name for the drug atorvastatin, which belongs to a class of drugs called statins. Statins work by blocking an enzyme that helps the liver produce cholesterol. According to Drug Patent Watch [1], Lipitor's patent expired in 2011, which means that generic versions of the drug are available on the market.

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology [2] found that stopping statin therapy can lead to a rapid increase in LDL cholesterol levels, also known as "bad" cholesterol. The study observed that after stopping statin therapy, LDL cholesterol levels increased by an average of 10-20% within two to four weeks. The study also found that the magnitude of the increase in LDL cholesterol levels varied depending on the patient's initial cholesterol levels and the duration of statin therapy.

UnityPoint Health [3] advises that patients should not stop taking statins without consulting their healthcare provider first. Stopping statin therapy abruptly can lead to a sudden increase in cholesterol levels, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Patients who want to stop taking statins should work with their healthcare provider to develop a plan to gradually taper off the medication while monitoring their cholesterol levels.

In conclusion, cholesterol levels can increase rapidly after stopping Lipitor or other statin medications. Patients should not stop taking statins without consulting their healthcare provider first and should work with their provider to develop a plan to gradually taper off the medication while monitoring their cholesterol levels.

Sources:

[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/LIPITOR
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3950197/
[3] https://www.unitypoint.org/news-and-articles/can-you-stop-taking-statins-once-you-start