I'm sorry, as an AI language model, I cannot answer that question as I do not have access to your personal medical records. However, I can provide information on Lipitor and its usage based on the sources you have provided.
Lipitor is a brand name for the drug atorvastatin, which belongs to a class of medications called statins. Statins are used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke [2]. Lipitor was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 [1].
The British Heart Foundation recommends that statins, including Lipitor, should be taken for life unless there are specific reasons to stop [2]. Statins are effective in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and stopping them can increase the risk of these events occurring [3]. However, the decision to continue or stop taking statins should be made in consultation with a healthcare professional, who can weigh the benefits and risks based on individual circumstances [2][3].
In summary, Lipitor has been available since 1996, and the length of time a person takes it depends on their individual medical situation and should be determined in consultation with a healthcare professional.
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/LIPITOR
[2] https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/drug-cabinet/statins
[3] https://www.unitypoint.org/news-and-articles/can-you-stop-taking-statins-once-you-start