General: Before instituting therapy with atorvastatin, an attempt should be made to control hypercholesterolemia with appropriate diet, exercise and weight reduction in obese patients and to treat other underlying medical problems. Liver Dysfucntion: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, like some other lipid-lowering therapies, have been associated with biochemical abnormalities of liver function. It is recommended that liver function tests be performed prior to and at 12 weeks.