Which three types of people should not take atorvastatin?

Atorvastatin is commonly available in tablet and capsule formulations. Generally, there is no established concept of "three types of people who cannot take atorvastatin." However, atorvastatin is not recommended for individuals allergic to its components, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, patients with active liver disease, or individuals with severe renal insufficiency. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Individuals allergic to atorvastatin components: After taking atorvastatin, the immune system of these individuals may mistakenly identify components of the medication, triggering an allergic reaction. Common symptoms include skin itching, rash, urticaria. In severe cases, symptoms such as laryngeal edema, difficulty breathing, and anaphylactic shock may occur, endangering life. Therefore, taking atorvastatin must be strictly avoided.

2. Pregnant women: Atorvastatin may affect normal fetal development. Animal experiments have shown that the drug may cause fetal malformations, and there is currently insufficient clinical evidence to confirm its safety for human fetuses. To avoid risks such as fetal developmental abnormalities and miscarriage, pregnant women must strictly avoid taking atorvastatin.

3. Breastfeeding women: Atorvastatin components can be transferred to infants through breast milk. Since infants' livers and other organs are not yet fully developed, they cannot metabolize the drug normally, potentially leading to drug accumulation in the body. This may cause adverse reactions such as liver function damage and muscle pain, affecting the infant's health. Therefore, atorvastatin is not recommended for breastfeeding women.

4. Patients with active liver disease: Atorvastatin is primarily metabolized in the liver. Patients with active liver disease already have impaired liver function and reduced ability to metabolize drugs. Taking atorvastatin may further burden the liver, potentially causing abnormal elevation of liver function indicators and exacerbating liver damage, which is detrimental to disease management.

5. Individuals with severe renal insufficiency: Patients with severe renal insufficiency have reduced ability to excrete drug metabolites through the kidneys. Taking atorvastatin may easily lead to drug accumulation, increasing the risk of muscle damage and further deterioration of kidney function. Therefore, these individuals should use atorvastatin cautiously or adjust the dosage under medical guidance.

The above-mentioned groups should clearly understand their contraindications to avoid physical discomfort caused by taking atorvastatin. Other individuals requiring atorvastatin should determine the dosage and treatment duration under a doctor's guidance and regularly monitor liver function, kidney function, and creatine kinase levels to ensure safe medication use.