What are the differences between lipitor and simvastatin?

Lipitor® and Simvastatin are prescription statin drugs used to reduce LDL or "bad" cholesterol and increase HDL or "good" in the blood. Doctors prescribe statins for high cholesterol patients who are not sufficiently controlled by dietary changes. Although Lipitor® and Simvastatin work in a similar way, there are differences between two drugs in relation to costs, dosage and side effects.

Lipitor® is a branded drug produced by Pfizer. Simvastatin is a general statin that is often sold under the ZOCOR® brand, produced by Merck, another main pharmaceutical company. Because simvastatin is available as a general drug, costs are often much smaller for both insured and uninsured patients.

Lipitor® and simvastatin are available as 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg tablets. Simvastatin is also available in a 5 mg tablet and in an oral decaying tablet that does not require patients to take a surprise pill in 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg of strength.Patients taking Lipitor® often benefit from the same levels of cholesterol reduction, taking only half the amount they would require if they took Simvastin. Although this is not a problem for patients who require lower doses of drugs, patients who take more than 40 mg Lipitor® per day will not see the same benefits if they switch to simvastatin because the highest Simvastatin dose is 80 mg per day.

While Lipitor® and Simvastatin have similar side effects, including headaches, diarrhea and gas, some patients experience side effects when taking one drug that they do not experience when using another. Patients complaining of side effects when taking either Lipitor® or simvastatin can be switched to a second medicine to see if it causes less side effects. However, both drugs have a low high risk of damage to the liver and simvastatin in some patients atA sudden other risk of muscle inflammation.

Patients who require a statin drug that helps reduce cholesterol levels should work with their doctors to discuss various available medicines, including costs and insurance coverage of the price of drugs. During the treatment of statin, liver tests should be regularly performed regardless of the medicine patient uses to monitor serious side effects and liver damage. For patients, it is necessary to discuss any health and drugs that they currently take with their doctors before they have taken Lipitor® or Simvastatin, as other conditions can reduce which drug can safely take.