Does lipitor (atorvastatin) wipe out the cholesterol in your arteries? or just low the amount of cholesterol produce by the body

Some of both: Both "lipitor" and the more-reasonably-priced statins decrease cholesterol synthesis by the liver; this does complicated things to its metabolism and cholesterol tends to leave the plaques over time, just as in someone who modifies diet and/or starts exercising.

Both, kind of...: The main function of Lipitor (atorvastatin) is to decrease your hepatic production of cholesterol. However, several studies shows that when this happens, over time you may see an improvement in your vascular health as evidenced by stabilization of plaque, reduction in plaque size, and reduction in carotid wall thickness.