Final answer:
Lipitor is a prescription drug known generically as atorvastatin and is part of the statin class, which lowers cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for its synthesis. It's prescribed to manage cholesterol levels and reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lipitor, known by its generic name atorvastatin, belongs to a class of drugs called statins. Statins are used to reduce cholesterol levels in the body by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme is responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol from lipids in the body. By blocking its action, Lipitor helps in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases by lowering bad cholesterol levels.
Prescription drugs like Lipitor are significant for patients who require medication management for chronic conditions. The introduction of the Medicare prescription benefits, while controversial regarding costs and impacts, aimed to make medications like Lipitor more accessible to the elderly and disabled who often need multiple prescriptions.