Lipitor Use In Pregnancy & Lactation

Atorvastatin is contraindicated in pregnancy. Women of childbearing potential should use adequate contraceptive measures.
Atorvastatin should be administered to women of childbearing age only when such patients are highly unlikely to conceive and have been informed of the potential hazards to the fetus. If the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drugs, therapy should be discontinued and the patient appraised of the potential hazard to the fetus.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic process and discontinuation of lipid-lowering drugs during pregnancy should have little impact on the outcome of long-term therapy of primary hypercholesterolemia. Cholesterol and other products of cholesterol biosynthesis are essential components for fetal development (including synthesis of steroids and cell membranes). Since HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors decrease cholesterol synthesis and possibly the synthesis of other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol, they may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women, therefore, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are contraindicated during pregnancy and in nursing mothers.
Atorvastatain is contraindicated while breastfeeding. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for adverse reactions in nursing infants, women taking atorvastatin should not breastfeed.