­            Bruce D. Roth is a chemist who was born in America June 1954, grew up to develop the highest selling drug in pharmaseutical history. On television commericals it is not uncommon to see the advertisement of people outdoors in remote beautiful scenic areas. Theses people, usually males describe briefly the previous state of their life and then how the doctor perscribed drug Lipator has made an impact in a positive direction. So what is Lipator and why is it the largest-selling drug in pharmeseutical history?

Lipitor is the trade name for the medication that Roth first synthesized in 1985 just four years after receiving his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Iowa State University. Several years, commercials, and awards later Dr. Roth was honored with the title ‘Hero of Chemistry,’ in 2008, by the American Chemical Society. Atorvastatin is the generic name for this medication that is used to treat high blood cholesterol. Understanding that the drug is designed to lower blood cholesterol it placed in the drug class of Statins based on how it operates. Statins function primarily by inhibiting cholesterol-booting (producing) agents (enzymes) within the liver.

3Hydroxy-3Methnyl-glutayl-CoA reductase or HMGCR found in mammalian cells are the enzymes targeted for reduction or inhibition in Statins. Specifically atorvastatin is used as a preventative measure against cardiovascular disease and to treat dyslipidemia. In the science world the term lipid is use to describe a group of molecules containing fats, waxes, sterols, or cholesterol, (and many more). Breaking apart the word dyslipidemia, dys– being the prefix meaning displeasure or difficulty, lipid (the root) referencing a fat or cholesterol, and –emia our suffix simply means relating to blood. When a patient is diagnosed with dyslipidemia it means they are having difficulties with fat in their blood.

Depending on individual factors a patient may be prescribed Lipitor. The most common side effect of taking Lipitor is headaches, occurring in as many as one out of every ten patients who take it. Other reported side effects found in less than ten percent of patients taking Lipitor include: rash, chest pain, insomnia & dizziness. Urinary tract infections have been found as well as, arthralgia, arthritis, and sinusitis. As with any foreign substance, allergic reaction could cause less than ideal situations. There have been some reports of Atovastatin and other statins playing a role in memory loss. The largest concern is the increase risk of myopathy (muscular disease).

 

Works Cited:

• “Atorvastatin – PubMed Health.” Web. 26 Jan. 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000009/>.
• “Atorvastatin.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atorvastatin>.
• “Dyslipidemia.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslipidemia>.
• “Myopathy.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myopathy>.