High cholesterol
atorvastatin
The most prescribed cholesterol pill; less than 1% of its studies looked at women's results separately.
- 51.3%
of the people in the studies were women
- 57%
of studies did not allow pregnant women
- 1%
looked at results for women separately
Was someone like me tested?
Choose the group that fits you.
Not one of these studies reported results separately for any of the groups below.
Pregnant women
57% of studies would not let pregnant women join. Only 3 small studies (96 women in all) looked at pregnancy or just after birth.
What do we know?
What the FDA drug label says
Stop taking it when you find out you are pregnant, or ask your doctor. Because of how it works it might harm the baby. It was never tested in pregnant women.
Studies focused on this group (3)
- Can Atorvastatin Improve Vascular Function in Women With a History of Preeclampsia? · 11 people · no results posted
- Atorvastatin as a Potential Adjunct to Misoprostol for Termination of Pregnancy · 9 people · no results posted
- AtorvaStatin Postpartum and Reduction of Cardiovascular risK · 76 people · no results posted
What women report more
Compared with men taking the same medicine.
- 3.8×Blood sugar problems, including diabetes
- 2.9×Hormone gland problems
- 2.8×Changes to the front of the eye
- 2.2×Calcium, magnesium and bone-mineral problems
How many times more often women reported each problem than men taking the same medicine, based on reports to the FDA. This is a warning sign, not proof the medicine caused it.
Make it about you
Check it against your medicines
Check atorvastatin against the medicines, pregnancy and birth control in your profile.
Join to checkAll the details
Every number behind this page.
Who was in the studies
81,200 people in 170 studies
Race
- White70.6%
- Asian17.6%
- Black / African American6.9%
- Other1.7%
- More than one race0.9%
Studies didn't say how many of the women were Black, Asian or another race — only totals for everyone.
- Hispanic or Latina
- 9.6%
- Age 65 or older
- 72%
- Studies with men only
- 3
- Studies with women only
- 3
Rules that kept women out
Share of studies with each rule.
- 57%
- 47%
No heart disease
Women with heart disease, heart rhythm problems or a past heart attack were turned away.
See the exact rule
“Patients with evidence of a cardiovascular event in the 12-month pre-index period.” NCT01304641
- 43%
No breastfeeding moms
Women who were breastfeeding could not join.
See the exact rule
“Pregnant or lactating women, or women intending to become pregnant” NCT00289900
- 40%
No diabetes
Women with diabetes were turned away.
See the exact rule
“Diabetes mellitus that is poorly controlled, newly diagnosed, or taking new or recently adjusted antidiabetic therapy (with the exception of ± 10 units of insulin)” NCT00289900
- 29%
Had to use birth control
Women who couldn't or didn't want to use birth control were turned away.
See the exact rule
“…terilization/post-menopausal) or if childbearing potential have neg urine pregnancy test and be willing and able to use non-hormonal birth control (non-hormonal IUD, condom or diaphragm) or remain abstinent from Screening to Follow-up Visit” NCT02586155
- 28%
No cancer
Women with current or past cancer were turned away.
See the exact rule
“History of malignancy of any organ syst treated/untreated w/in the past 2 yrs whether or not there is evidence of local recurrence/metastases except localized basal skin cell carcinoma” NCT02586155
What nobody checked
Share of studies that recorded each thing.
- 1%Results shown separately for women
- 0%Whether anyone was pregnant
- 0%Whether women were past menopause
- 8%Body weight (BMI)
- 21%Hispanic / Latina or not
- 47%Race
All 170 studies
Study titles and rules are shown in their original English.