Lipitor is a medication that is used to lower cholesterol levels in the body. According to drugpatentwatch.com [1], the patent for Lipitor expired in 2011, and since then, the drug has been available as a generic medication. Lipitor has been shown to be effective in reducing cholesterol levels, which can help to prevent heart disease and stroke [2]. However, the long-term effectiveness of Lipitor has been a subject of debate.

A study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine [2] found that Lipitor was effective in reducing cholesterol levels in patients over a period of five years. The study followed patients who had been prescribed Lipitor for the treatment of high cholesterol and found that the medication was effective in reducing cholesterol levels in the majority of patients. The study also found that Lipitor was generally well-tolerated by patients and had few side effects.

Another study published in the journal Respiratory Research [3] found that Lipitor may have additional benefits for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study found that Lipitor was effective in reducing inflammation in the lungs of patients with COPD, which could help to improve lung function and reduce symptoms of the disease.

Overall, the available evidence suggests that Lipitor is an effective medication for reducing cholesterol levels in the body, which can help to prevent heart disease and stroke. While the long-term effectiveness of the medication is still a subject of debate, studies have shown that Lipitor is generally well-tolerated by patients and has few side effects. Additionally, recent research has suggested that Lipitor may have additional benefits for patients with COPD.

Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/LIPITOR
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1767327/
[3] https://respiratory-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12931-019-0984-3