Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (824 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A pyrrole and heptanoic acid derivative, hydroxymethylglutaryl-coa reductase inhibitor (statin), and anticholesteremic agent that is used to reduce serum levels of ldl-cholesterol; apolipoprotein B; and triglycerides. It is used to increase serum levels of hdl-cholesterol in the treatment of hyperlipidemias, and for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in patients with multiple risk factors.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: (3R,5R)-7-(2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-5-isopropyl-3-phenyl-4-(phenylcarbamoyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-3,5-dihydroxyheptanoic acid; Lipitor; Atorvastatin Calcium; Atorvastatin, Calcium Salt; Atorvastatin Calcium Anhydrous; Liptonorm; Atorvastatin Calcium Hydrate; CI 981.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Pyrroles; Heptanoic Acids
Related concepts
- Hydroxymethylglutaryl-Coa Reductase Inhibitor
- Anticholesteremic Agent
- LDL Cholesterol
- Apolipoproteins
- Triglycerides
- HDL Cholesterol
- Hyperlipidemias
- Cardiovascular Diseases
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 8,132 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Atorvastatin” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 1,559 of them (19.2%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 3,529 records.
Reviews account for 491 records (6.0%) and meta-analyses for 154. Randomized controlled trials number 1,742 (21.4%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up a comparatively large share of this literature, which means many treatment questions have been tested directly.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 85 |
| 2000-2009 | 2,959 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,529 |
| 2020 onward | 1,559 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 491 | 6.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 154 | 1.9% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 1,742 | 21.4% |
Method: PubMed query "Atorvastatin"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROS-responsive nano-drug delivery system combining mitochondria-targeting ceria nanoparticles with atorvastatin for acute kidney injury | 2020 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 262 | cc by PMID 32104507 · DOI · PMC7019163 |
| Side Effect Patterns in a Crossover Trial of Statin, Placebo, and No Treatment | 2021 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 150 | cc by PMID 34531021 · DOI · PMC8453640 |
| Statin treatment and muscle symptoms: series of randomised, placebo controlled n-of-1 trials | 2021 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 130 | cc by PMID 33627334 · DOI · PMC7903384 |
| The role of early ezetimibe combination with atorvastatin in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease | 2026 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 41673582 · DOI · PMC12998120 |
ROS-responsive nano-drug delivery system combining mitochondria-targeting ceria nanoparticles with atorvastatin for acute kidney injury [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by sepsis is a serious disease which mitochondrial oxidative stress and inflammatory play a key role in its pathophysiology.
- Closing excerpt
- Conclusions: This ROS-responsive nano-drug delivery system combining mitochondria-targeting ceria nanoparticles with atorvastatin has favorable potentials in the sepsis-induced AKI therapy.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (219 words)
Acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by sepsis is a serious disease which mitochondrial oxidative stress and inflammatory play a key role in its pathophysiology. Ceria nanoparticles hold strong and recyclable reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging activity, have been applied to treat ROS-related diseases. However, ceria nanoparticles can't selectively target mitochondria and the ultra-small ceria nanoparticles are easily agglomerated. To overcome these shortcomings and improve therapeutic efficiency, we designed an ROS-responsive nano-drug delivery system combining mitochondria-targeting ceria nanoparticles with atorvastatin for acute kidney injury. Methods: Ceria nanoparticles were modified with triphenylphosphine (TCeria NPs), followed by coating with ROS-responsive organic polymer (mPEG-TK-PLGA) and loaded atorvastatin (Atv/PTP-TCeria NPs). The physicochemical properties, in vitro drug release profiles, mitochondria-targeting ability, in vitro antioxidant, anti-apoptotic activity and in vivo treatment efficacy of Atv/PTP-TCeria NPs were examined. Results: Atv/PTP-TCeria NPs could accumulate in kidneys and hold a great ability to ROS-responsively release drug and TCeria NPs could target mitochondria to eliminate excessive ROS. In vitro study suggested Atv/PTP-TCeria NPs exhibited superior antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activity. In vivo study showed that Atv/PTP-TCeria NPs effectively decreased oxidative stress and inflammatory, could protect the mitochondrial structure, reduced apoptosis of tubular cell and tubular necrosis in the sepsis-induced AKI mice model. Conclusions: This ROS-responsive nano-drug delivery system combining mitochondria-targeting ceria nanoparticles with atorvastatin has favorable potentials in the sepsis-induced AKI therapy.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32104507 · DOI · PMC7019163
Side Effect Patterns in a Crossover Trial of Statin, Placebo, and No Treatment [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundMost people who begin statins abandon them, most commonly because of side effects.
- Closing excerpt
- (Self-Assessment Method for Statin Side-effects Or Nocebo [SAMSON]; NCT02668016).
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (166 words)
BackgroundMost people who begin statins abandon them, most commonly because of side effects.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess daily symptom scores on statin, placebo, and no treatment in participants who had abandoned statins.MethodsParticipants received 12 1-month medication bottles, 4 containing atorvastatin 20 mg, 4 placebo, and 4 empty. We measured daily symptom intensity for each using an app (scale 1-100). We also measured the "nocebo" ratio: the ratio of symptoms induced by taking statin that was also induced by taking placebo.ResultsA total of 60 participants were randomized and 49 completed the 12-month protocol. Mean symptom score was 8.0 (95% CI: 4.7-11.3) in no-tablet months. It was higher in statin months (16.3; 95% CI: 13.0-19.6; P ConclusionsThe majority of symptoms caused by statin tablets were nocebo. Clinicians should not interpret symptom intensity or timing of symptom onset or offset (on starting or stopping statin tablets) as indicating pharmacological causation, because the pattern is identical for placebo. (Self-Assessment Method for Statin Side-effects Or Nocebo [SAMSON]; NCT02668016).
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 34531021 · DOI · PMC8453640
Statin treatment and muscle symptoms: series of randomised, placebo controlled n-of-1 trials [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectiveTo establish the effect of statins on muscle symptoms in people who had previously reported muscle symptoms when taking statins.
- Closing excerpt
- Trial registrationISRCTN30952488, EUDRACT 2016-000141-31, NCT02781064.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (246 words)
ObjectiveTo establish the effect of statins on muscle symptoms in people who had previously reported muscle symptoms when taking statins.DesignSeries of randomised, placebo controlled n-of-1 trials.SettingPrimary care across 50 sites in the United Kingdom, December 2016 to April 2018.Participants200 participants who had recently stopped or were considering stopping treatment with statins because of muscle symptoms.InterventionsParticipants were randomised to a sequence of six double blinded treatment periods (two months each) of atorvastatin 20 mg daily or placebo.Main outcome measuresAt the end of each treatment period, participants rated their muscle symptoms on a visual analogue scale (0-10). The primary analysis compared symptom scores in the statin and placebo periods.Results151 participants provided symptoms scores for at least one statin period and one placebo period and were included in the primary analysis. Overall, no difference in muscle symptom scores was found between the statin and placebo periods (mean difference statin minus placebo -0.11, 95% confidence interval -0.36 to 0.14; P=0.40)). Withdrawals because of intolerable muscle symptoms were 18 participants (9%) during a statin period and 13 (7%) during a placebo period. Two thirds of those completing the trial reported restarting long term treatment with statins.ConclusionsNo overall effect of atorvastatin 20 mg on muscle symptoms compared with placebo was found in participants who had previously reported severe muscle symptoms when taking statins. Most people completing the trial intended to restart treatment with statins. N-of-1 trials can assess drug effects at the group level and guide individual treatment.Trial registrationISRCTN30952488, EUDRACT 2016-000141-31, NCT02781064.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33627334 · DOI · PMC7903384
The role of early ezetimibe combination with atorvastatin in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundDespite statin therapy, achieving target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels remain suboptimal in high-risk patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
- Closing excerpt
- Trial registrationNCT05761444; Registration date: March 9, 2023.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (193 words)
BackgroundDespite statin therapy, achieving target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels remain suboptimal in high-risk patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This study evaluated efficacy and safety of early addition of ezetimibe (EZ) with atorvastatin (AS), prior to reaching the maximally tolerated dose of statin, in very high-risk patients.MethodsThis phase 4 (NCT05761444), multicenter, randomized, open-label, active-controlled study enrolled patients (≥ 30 years) with very high-risk of ASCVD. Eligible patients had LDL-C ≥ 70 mg/dL with low/moderate intensity statin monotherapy or statin-naïve or not been on stable statin regimen prior to enrollment. Patients were randomized 1:1 to EZ10/AS40 mg combination therapy or AS40 mg statin alone for 12 weeks. Primary endpoint was percentage change in LDL-C from baseline to week 6.ResultsPatients (N = 137) received EZ/AS (n = 67) or AS (n = 70) once a day. The EZ/AS lipid-lowering effect was statistically greater than AS monotherapy at week 6 (LSMD: -21.2; P ConclusionsEarly combination of EZ with AS, rather than a stepwise approach, significantly reduced LDL-C levels and improved LDL-C reduction target achievement compared to AS monotherapy in very high-risk patients with dyslipidemia with no new safety issues.Trial registrationNCT05761444; Registration date: March 9, 2023.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41673582 · DOI · PMC12998120
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Hepatotoxicity of statins and other lipid-lowering agents [5]
- Research article Variability of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol response with different doses of atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin: results from VOYAGER [6]
- Research article The anti-inflammatory effects of statins on patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A systemic review and meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials [7]
- Research article Effects of atorvastatin on chronic subdural hematoma: A systematic review [8]
- Research article Doses of rosuvastatin, atorvastatin and simvastatin that induce equal reductions in LDL-C and non-HDL-C: Results from the VOYAGER meta-analysis [9]
- Research article Effects of age, gender and statin dose on lipid levels: Results from the VOYAGER meta-analysis database [10]
References
- Yu H, Jin F, Liu D, Shu G, Wang X, Qi J, et al.. ROS-responsive nano-drug delivery system combining mitochondria-targeting ceria nanoparticles with atorvastatin for acute kidney injury. . 2020. PMID 32104507 · DOI · PMC7019163
- Howard JP, Wood FA, Finegold JA, Nowbar AN, Thompson DM, Arnold AD, et al.. Side Effect Patterns in a Crossover Trial of Statin, Placebo, and No Treatment. . 2021. PMID 34531021 · DOI · PMC8453640
- Herrett E, Williamson E, Brack K, Beaumont D, Perkins A, Thayne A, et al.. Statin treatment and muscle symptoms: series of randomised, placebo controlled n-of-1 trials. . 2021. PMID 33627334 · DOI · PMC7903384
- Kang SH, Kwon SU, Lee JY, Seo SM, Nam CW, Park GM, et al.. The role of early ezetimibe combination with atorvastatin in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. . 2026. PMID 41673582 · DOI · PMC12998120
- Björnsson ES. Hepatotoxicity of statins and other lipid-lowering agents. Liver Int. 2017. PMID 27860156 · DOI
- Karlson BW, Wiklund O, Palmer MK, Nicholls SJ, Lundman P, Barter PJ. Variability of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol response with different doses of atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin: results from VOYAGER. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Pharmacother. 2016. PMID 27533947 · DOI
- Li GM, Zhao J, Li B, Zhang XF, Ma JX, Ma XL, et al.. The anti-inflammatory effects of statins on patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A systemic review and meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials. Autoimmun Rev. 2018. PMID 29353098 · DOI
- Qiu S, Zhuo W, Sun C, Su Z, Yan A, Shen L. Effects of atorvastatin on chronic subdural hematoma: A systematic review. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017. PMID 28658127 · DOI · PMC5500049
- Karlson BW, Palmer MK, Nicholls SJ, Lundman P, Barter PJ. Doses of rosuvastatin, atorvastatin and simvastatin that induce equal reductions in LDL-C and non-HDL-C: Results from the VOYAGER meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2016. PMID 26246463 · DOI
- Karlson BW, Palmer MK, Nicholls SJ, Barter PJ, Lundman P. Effects of age, gender and statin dose on lipid levels: Results from the VOYAGER meta-analysis database. Atherosclerosis. 2017. PMID 28863328 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.