Comparing Atorvastatin vs Simvastatin
Atorvastatin |
Simvastatin |
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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,... more |
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 -... more |
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Prescription only |
Prescription only |
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Ratings & ReviewsRecent helpful reviews |
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5.6
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5.3
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Drug Class |
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Side Effects |
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Commonly reported side effects include: hemorrhagic stroke, arthralgia, diarrhea, and nasopharyngitis. See the full atorvastatin side effects document. |
See the full simvastatin side effects document. |
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Pricing and Coupons* Prices are without insurance |
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Generic Availability |
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Yes (this medicine) |
Yes (this medicine) |
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Dosage Form(s) Available |
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Brand Names |
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Lipitor | FloLipid, and Zocor | ||||||||||||||||
Half LifeThe half-life of a drug is the time taken for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce to half its original value. |
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14 hours |
N/A |
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CSA ScheduleView glossary of terms. |
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N
Not a controlled drug
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act. |
N
Not a controlled drug
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act. |
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Pregnancy Category |
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X
Category X
Not for use in pregnancy
See the full Pregnancy Warnings document. |
X
Category X
Not for use in pregnancy
See the full Pregnancy Warnings document. |
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FDA Alerts |
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Drug Interactions |
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A total of 383 drugs are known to interact with atorvastatin:
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A total of 285 drugs are known to interact with simvastatin:
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Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions |
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Disease Interactions |
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First Approval Date |
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December 17, 1996 |
December 23, 1991 |
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WADA ClassView World Anti-Doping Agency classifications. |
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N/A |
N/A |
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More Information |
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Consumer Resources |
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Professional Resources |
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Related Treatment Guide |
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Disclaimer: This site is designed to offer information for general educational purposes only. The health information furnished on this site and the interactive responses are not intended to be professional advice and are not intended to replace personal consultation with a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. You must always seek the advice of a professional for questions related to a disease, disease symptoms, and appropriate therapeutic treatments.
For High Cholesterol At age 48 and good health, I took Atorvastatin/10mg for 1 year without symptoms. It lowered my bad cholesterol. Near the 1st year, I began experiencing significant/unusual leg weakness and knee pain when standing from a kneeling position. It got to the point that I always needed to brace myself on the sofa or coffee table when getting up after playing with my dog or toddler son. Rising from my desk required a push on the desk top. Then weakness and pain to my finger/shoulder joints and a "forgetfulness." Overall, I felt "Rickety." My MD said to stay on it. I decided otherwise and went off cold turkey one day. I've been off 2 years and I feel normal again, except for residual and reduced effect on my shoulder and hands.