Atorvastatin Vs. Rosuvastatin: Drug Comparison

Atorvastatin is the active ingredient in brand-name medications including Lipitor^®. The information below is about brand name Lipitor. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a statin medication used to lower cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which reduces cholesterol production in the liver and helps lower LDL cholesterol while raising HDL cholesterol. Its FDA-approved indications include treating high cholesterol, preventing cardiovascular disease, and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes in individuals with or at high risk for cardiovascular issues. Lipitor is available in tablet form, taken once daily. Common side effects include muscle pain, diarrhea, and nausea, while serious risks include liver damage and muscle breakdown. Caution is advised in patients taking other medications that affect liver function.

Rosuvastatin is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Crestor^®. The information below is about brand name Crestor. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Crestor (rosuvastatin) is a statin medication used to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which reduces the production of cholesterol in the liver. Its FDA-approved indications include the treatment of high cholesterol, prevention of cardiovascular disease, and reduction of stroke or heart attack risk in individuals with elevated cholesterol. Off label, Crestor may be used for conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia or for cardiovascular protection in certain high-risk groups. It is available in tablet form, taken orally. Common side effects include muscle pain, headache, and nausea, while serious warnings include the risk of muscle breakdown and liver damage.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)

HMG Co‑A reductase inhibitor (statin)

Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) is indicated:

• To reduce the risk of:

  • Myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina in adults with multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) but without clinically evident CHD

  • MI and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with multiple risk factors for CHD but without clinically evident CHD

  • Non-fatal MI, fatal and non-fatal stroke, revascularization procedures, hospitalization for congestive heart failure, and angina in adults with clinically evident CHD

• As an adjunct to diet to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) in:

  • Adults with primary hyperlipidemia

  • Adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH)

• As an adjunct to other LDL-C-lowering therapies to reduce LDL-C in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

• As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adults with:

  • Primary dysbetaliproteinemia

  • Hypertriglyceridemia

Crestor (rosuvastatin) is indicated:

• To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or an arterial revascularization procedure) in adults without established coronary heart disease who are at increased risk of CV disease based on age, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥2 mg/L, and at least one additional CV risk factor

• As an adjunct to diet to:

  • Reduce LDL-C in adults with primary hyperlipidemia

  • Reduce LDL-C and slow the progression of atherosclerosis in adults

  • Reduce LDL-C in adults and pediatric patients aged 8 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).

• As an adjunct to other LDL-C-lowering therapies, or alone if such treatments are unavailable, to reduce LDL-C in adults and pediatric patients aged 7 years and older with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH)

• As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adults with:

  • Primary dysbetalipoproteinemia

  • Hypertriglyceridemia

• Typically taken orally once daily

• Comes in 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg tablets

• Typically taken orally once daily

• Comes in 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablets

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are:

• Inflammation of the nose and throat

• Joint pain

• Diarrhea

• Pain in extremity

• Urinary tract infection

Most frequent adverse reactions (rate ≥2%) are:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Muscle aches

• Weakness

• Constipation

• Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis

• Hypersensitivity to atorvastatin or any excipient in Lipitor

• Drug interactions: rifampin, oral contraceptives, digoxin, see full prescribing information for details regarding concomitant use of Lipitor with other drugs or grapefruit juice that increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis

• Hypersensitivity to rosuvastatin or any excipients in Crestor

• Drug interactions: aluminum and magnesium hydroxide combination antacids, warfarin

• Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM)

• Liver dysfunction

• Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM)

• Liver dysfunction

• Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm

• Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding not recommended during treatment with Crestor

*This information is from the label for brand name Lipitor^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Atorvastatin the active ingredient in Lipitor, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient atorvastatin.

*This information is from the label for brand name Crestor^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Rosuvastatin, the active ingredient in Crestor, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient rosuvastatin.