Lipitor Alternatives: Crestor, Zocor and Other Drugs

Lipitor also known as atorvastatin is a drug of the statin class of drugs most commonly used to lower cholesterol levels in patients who have tried improved diet and exercise to no avail for lowering their cholesterol. When considering whether to take Lipitor or not it is important to see how it compares to other drugs that are designed to lower cholesterol levels. All drugs differ slightly so some may be a better fit for certain individuals than others.

Lipitor vs. Crestor (rosuvastatin)

Crestor is another drug often prescribed for those suffering from high cholesterol. It like Lipitor is also a statin and has many of the same effects as Lipitor. It is made by the company AstraZeneca and is their largest selling product with its annual sales reaching $6 billion. Crestor like Lipitor can also be used in the treatment and prevention of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. In a recent study Crestor was found to be mildly better at reducing cholesterol and heart attacks than Lipitor. Crestor like all drugs that belong to the class of statin drugs poses the risk of the user developing myopathy. The biggest difference between Lipitor and Crestor is price. Generic versions of Lipitor known as atorvastatin are much cheaper than Crestor whose patent does not expire until 2016. Crestor's small percentage of ability to lower cholesterol better than atorvastatin is probably not significant enough for many sufferers of high cholesterol to choose it over atorvastatin.

Zocor (simvastatin) vs. Lipitor

Zocor also known as simvastatin is another drug used to treat high cholesterol and help reduce heart attacks. As a statin Zocor works in a very similar way to Lipitor when it comes to lowering high cholesterol or preventing heart attacks. It also poses the same risks such as myopathy or possibly memory loss and type II diabetes. Zocor is also much cheaper than Lipitor which is the main reason some may prefer it. The medical community is divided when it comes to their opinion of Zocor. The majority seem to think that Zocor is not as good at lowering cholesterol as Lipitor. Most however will agree that in low doses the two drugs are nearly identical in how effective they are.

Pravachol (pravastatin) vs. Lipitor

Pravastatin is another drug from the statin class of drugs often compared with Lipitor for efficacy. When comparing pravastatin to Lipitor it is apparent that in the majority of cases Lipitor is superior. There have been multiple studies which have shown Lipitor as being superior and lowering cholesterol levels. Pravastatin still lowers cholesterol but not to the extent that Lipitor does. Another study also found Lipitor superior to preventing heart attacks and heart disease.

Mevacor (lovastatin) vs. Lipitor

Another drug sometimes used similarly as Lipitor is lovastatin. It is also a statin but many reports claim it is more prone to produce side effects than Lipitor. Some studies have also found Lipitor to be significantly better at lowering cholesterol levels. One study however found that Lipitor and lovastatin when taken in extended release form are nearly identical in their ability to reduce high cholesterol.