Pfizer to push for over-the-counter version of Lipitor

Currently, individuals who have high cholesterol must talk to their doctor about a prescription to buy Lipitor, but this may soon become a thing of the past. Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company that produces Lipitor is planning to begin producing an over-the-counter version of the medication.

Company officials told BusinessWeek that the move is part of an attempt to make the drug more competitive with generic versions that recently started hitting the market. Earlier this year, Pfizer's patent on Lipitor expired. Still, there are some hurdles standing in the way of the plan.

"There is an intent at some point to have an OTC version of Lipitor in the marketplace," Pfizer's CEO Ian Read told the news source. "We have no definitive evidence we can do it."

A non-prescription version of Lipitor would have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which may be reluctant to make a drug available to the public that carries a risk of side effects.

While Lipitor is well tolerated by the majority of patients, the National Institutes of Health reports that some individuals experience pains in the chest, muscles and joints.