Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a medication primarily used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. It belongs to a class of drugs called statins and works by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for producing cholesterol in the liver. While Lipitor is not indicated for hypertension, it may be prescribed to patients with high blood pressure who also have high cholesterol levels [2].

The recommended starting dose of Lipitor for most adults is 10-20 mg once daily, with the maximum dose being 80 mg/day. The dose may be adjusted based on individual patient response and tolerability. The usual dose range for patients with high cholesterol is 10-80 mg/day, while the dose range for patients with coronary heart disease or other cardiovascular risk factors is 10-80 mg/day [1].

In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension, researchers found that atorvastatin had a modest but significant blood pressure-lowering effect in patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia. The study showed that atorvastatin 10 mg/day reduced systolic blood pressure by 4.8 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.2 mmHg, while atorvastatin 20 mg/day reduced systolic blood pressure by 5.9 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 3.1 mmHg. However, the study did not investigate the use of atorvastatin as a primary treatment for hypertension [3].

In summary, while Lipitor is not indicated for hypertension, it may be prescribed to patients with high blood pressure who also have high cholesterol levels. The recommended starting dose of Lipitor for most adults is 10-20 mg once daily, with the maximum dose being 80 mg/day. A study showed that atorvastatin had a modest but significant blood pressure-lowering effect in patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia, but further research is needed to investigate the use of atorvastatin as a primary treatment for hypertension [1][2][3].

Sources:
[1] DrugPatentWatch. Lipitor. https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/LIPITOR. Accessed 14 Oct 2021.
[2] Medscape. Lipitor (atorvastatin). https://reference.medscape.com/drug/lipitor-atorvaliq-atorvastatin-342446. Accessed 14 Oct 2021.
[3] Zhang Y, Li S, Guo Y, et al. Effect of atorvastatin on blood pressure: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011;13(11):841-850. doi:10.1111/j.1751-7176.2011.00516.x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21881597/. Accessed 14 Oct 2021.