Atorvastatin is indicated as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, apo B, and triglycerides (TG) levels and to increase HDL-C in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (heterozygous familial and nonfamilial) and mixed dyslipidemia; as an adjunct to diet for the treatment of patients with elevated serum triglycerides (TG) levels; for the treatment of patients with primary dysbetalipoproteinemia who do not respond adequately to diet; to reduce total-C and LDL-C in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (eg, LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable.
Prior to initiating therapy with atorvastatin, secondary cause for hypercholesterolemia (e.g. poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, nephritic syndrome, dysproteinemia, obstructive liver disease, other drug therapy, and alcoholism) should be identified and treated.