Atorvastatin Vs. Simvastatin: 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.

Simvastatin is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Zocor^®. The information below is about brand name Zocor. 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.”

Zocor (simvastatin) is a statin medication used to lower cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol production in the liver, which helps reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL cholesterol. Its FDA-approved indications include the treatment of hyperlipidemia and the prevention of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes in individuals at risk. Zocor is available in oral tablet form, typically taken once daily in the evening. Common side effects include muscle pain, headache, and digestive issues, while serious risks include liver damage and rare but severe muscle breakdown. Caution is advised when using Zocor with certain medications that can increase the risk of muscle-related side effects.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)

HMG-CoA 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

Zocor (simvastatin) is indicated:

• To reduce the risk of total mortality by reducing risk of coronary heart disease death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke, and the need for coronary and non-coronary revascularization procedures in adults with established coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and/or diabetes, who are at high risk of coronary heart disease events.

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

  • In adults with primary hyperlipidemia

  • In 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 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 as 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 common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are:

• Upper respiratory infection

• Headache

• Abdominal pain

• Constipation

• Nausea

• 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

• Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (select azole anti-fungals, macrolide antibiotics, anti-viral medications, and nefazodone)

• Concomitant use of cyclosporine, danazol or gemfibrozil

• Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis

• Hypersensitivity to simvastatin or any excipient in Zocor

• Drug interactions: coumarin anticoagulants, digoxin

• See full prescribing information for details regarding concomitant use of Zocor with other drugs or grapefruit juice that increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• 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 Zocor

*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 Zocor^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Simvastatin, the active ingredient in Zocor, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient simvastatin.