A Patient Who Has Primary Hyperlipidemia and Who Takes Atorvastatin

question 5

Multiple Choice

A patient who has primary hyperlipidemia and who takes atorvastatin (Lipitor) continues to have LDL cholesterol of 140 mg/dL after 3 months of therapy.The primary care NP increases the dose from 10 mg daily to 20 mg daily.The patient reports headache and dizziness a few weeks after the dose increase.The NP should:

• A) change the atorvastatin dose to 15 mg twice daily.
• B) change the patient's medication to cholestyramine (Questran).
• C) add ezetimibe (Zetia) and lower the atorvastatin to 10 mg daily.
• D) recommend supplements of omega-3 along with the atorvastatin.

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