Comparing Atorvastatin vs Simvastatin

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Atorvastatin	Simvastatin	Enter another drug to compare

Atorvastatin

Simvastatin

Prescription only

Atorvastatin is effective at lowering cholesterol; however, its use may be limited by side effects such as muscle pain. Prescribed for High Cholesterol, High Cholesterol - Familial Heterozygous... View more

Prescription only

Simvastatin is effective at lowering cholesterol; however, it may cause muscle pain particularly at higher dosages. Prescribed for High Cholesterol, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction, High Cholesterol -... View more

More about Atorvastatin

More about Simvastatin

Generic Status

Lower-cost generic is available

Ratings & Reviews

Atorvastatin has an average rating of 4.2 out of 10 from a total of 286 ratings on Drugs.com. 28% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 57% reported a negative effect.

Simvastatin has an average rating of 4.8 out of 10 from a total of 130 ratings on Drugs.com. 31% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 50% reported a negative effect.

View all 286 reviews

View all 130 reviews

Drug Class

Statins

Statins

Side Effects

Commonly reported side effects include:

hemorrhagic stroke
arthralgia
diarrhea
nasopharyngitis

See also: atorvastatin side effects in more detail.

See also: simvastatin side effects in more detail.

Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance

Quantity	50 each
Dosage	20 mg
Per Unit^*	$0.43 - $0.63
Cost^*	$21.53 - $31.70

View all atorvastatin prices

Quantity	100 each
Dosage	40 mg
Per Unit^*	$0.27 - $0.95
Cost^*	$27.19 - $95.00

View all simvastatin prices

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Dosage Form(s) Available

Oral tablet

Oral tablet

Half Life The half-life of a drug is the time taken for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce to half its original value.

14 hours

N/A

CSA Schedule ** View glossary of terms

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category X Not for use in pregnancy

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category X Not for use in pregnancy

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 357 drugs are known to interact with atorvastatin:

44 major drug interactions (142 brand and generic names)
279 moderate drug interactions (786 brand and generic names)
34 minor drug interactions (246 brand and generic names)

A total of 299 drugs are known to interact with simvastatin:

57 major drug interactions (227 brand and generic names)
231 moderate drug interactions (599 brand and generic names)
11 minor drug interactions (53 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

Grapefruit juice can increase the blood levels of atorvastatin. This can increase the risk of side... View more
Atorvastatin may cause liver problems and using it with substantial quantities of alcohol may... View more

Grapefruit juice can significantly increase the blood levels of simvastatin. This can increase the... View more
Simvastatin may cause liver problems and using it with substantial quantities of alcohol may... View more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

December 17, 1996

December 23, 1991

WADA Class View World Anti-Doping Agency classifications.

N/A

More Information

Patient resources

Professional Resources

** The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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Comparing Atorvastatin vs Simvastatin

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