Tablets of Lipitor and its generic equivalent, atorvastatin, are among the drugs commonly prescribed to prevent heart attacks and strokes among people at risk. Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
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The latest guidelines for cholesterol-lowering drugs emphasize their use to manage patients' risk for cardiovascular disease rather than simply hitting numerical cholesterol targets. Roy Scott/Ikon Images/Corbis hide caption
Lipitor and other statin drugs are commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol. Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Hey bro, taking statins does not give you a free ride in the exercise department. MorelSO/iStockphoto hide caption
If new guidelines are followed fully, half the medicine chests in America could eventually be stocked with cholesterol-lowering drugs such as atorvastatin, the generic form of Lipitor. Bill Gallery/AP hide caption
Statins are widely prescribed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but we may not be getting a clear picture of side effect risks. iStockphoto hide caption
Not covered by Obamacare, but still sweet. Cristian Baitg/iStockphoto hide caption
Lipitor and other statin drugs are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. Mel Evans/AP hide caption
Lipitor and other cholesterol-fighting drugs carry risks of side effects. Paul Sakuma/AP hide caption
Lipitor, and other cholesterol-fighting drugs like it, will carry new instructions about risks. Paul Sakuma/AP hide caption