Atorvastatin (Lipitor) vs Rosuvastatin (Crestor): Statin Comparison
speciality medications
Lipitor – or its generic and active ingredient, atorvastatin – and Crestor (rosuvastatin) are among the most widely-prescribed drugs in the entire world.
Why?
They’re cheap, they don’t cause egregious side effects, and they effectively treat one of the most common issues in the world: High cholesterol.
These two drugs, these statins, are trusted by millions of patients to reduce their cardiovascular risk and provide other benefits, like preventing heart attacks.
But! That does not mean these drugs are equivalent. If you’re deciding between atorvastatin vs. rosuvastatin, or Lipitor vs. Crestor, there’s a good chance that one or the other will work better for you.
How are you supposed to decide which is best?
Here, we’ll give you all the information you need to make an informed decision about your care. We’ll walk through how they work, their effectiveness, side effects, and cost.
By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of what to discuss with your doctor – and (importantly!) how to save money if you’re filling a prescription through an online and international Canadian pharmacy website.
Statins 101: What Do Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin Do?
Both atorvastatin and rosuvastatin belong to a class of drugs called statins.
Statins lower levels of LDL cholesterol, the so-called “bad” cholesterol, by blocking an enzyme in the liver that helps the body make cholesterol in the first place.
Lower LDL levels, in turn, reduce the buildup of fatty plaques in arteries, which can lower the risk of:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Angina (chest pain)
- Other cardiovascular events
Since they’re both statins, both Lipitor and Crestor are able to help provide these benefits.
However, while their core function is the same and they work in very similar ways, there are subtle differences between the two meds.
For example, rosuvastatin is often considered slightly more potent on a milligram-to-milligram basis, meaning a lower dose may achieve the same LDL reduction as a higher dose of atorvastatin.
But that’s not the only difference.
Atorvastatin vs Rosuvastatin: Key Differences at a Glance
If you’re comparing Lipitor and Crestor, here are just a few distinctions that you should keep in mind.
Their potency. Generally, rosuvastatin is considered more potent than atorvastatin, especially at higher doses.
Their half-lives. A substance’s half-life is a measure of how quickly it degrades, and therefore how long it stays in a patient’s body.
Rosuvastatin’s half-life is longer than atorvastatin’s, which can have a bit of an influence on how flexible a patient’s dosing schedule with the medications are.
Their drug interactions. Atorvastatin has a higher likelihood of interacting with other medications because of how it’s metabolized in the liver.
However, these considerations don’t necessarily tell you which medication is best for your body.
The best way to do that is to talk to your doctor – and, perhaps, to go into that conversation armed with this information.
Which Is Safer, Atorvastatin or Rosuvastatin?
The short answer is simple: Both statins are generally safe and well tolerated.
The question of which is safer for you (by far the more interesting, but harder to answer question!) often depends on your unique health profile.
Some questions your doctor might ask you, and subsequent information they may review before issuing a recommendation, might concern your:
Liver function. Atorvastatin is metabolized primarily in the liver. As mentioned above, this can affect which drugs interact with atorvastatin. It may also have an elevated impact on patients who have other liver issues.
Patients with liver concerns may be monitored more closely.
Kidney function. In a similar way, rosuvastatin can require lifestyle adjustments or heightened monitoring in patients with kidney issues, as it is partly cleared by the kidneys.
Drug interactions. Atorvastatin may interact with more medications than rosuvastatin, including some antibiotics, antifungals, and HIV drugs.
Ultimately, neither drug is universally safer for every single person who needs to take it.
The right choice for you depends on your other conditions, prescriptions, and your doctor’s recommendations.
Side Effects of Rosuvastatin vs Atorvastatin
All statins can cause some side effects (just like all effective medications).
Lipitor and Crestor aren’t exceptions.
Most of the side effects that come with prescribed statin use are both mild and manageable, but they are good to know about nonetheless.
Common Side Effects of Both Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin
The most frequently reported side effects of both medications include:
- Headaches
- Muscle aches (myalgia)
- Fatigue
- Nausea or stomach upset
- Joint pain
Again, these side effects should be both mild and temporary. As your body gets used to these medications, the effects themselves should fade away.
Let’s Talk About Muscle Pain and Statins
One of the biggest patient concerns before they start taking statins is muscle pain.
Both drugs – Lipitor and Crestor alike – carry this risk, though research suggests the overall incidence is relatively low.
A large study showed that rosuvastatin may cause muscle-related symptoms in slightly fewer patients than atorvastatin, but the overall risk levels are relatively similar and will depend on your body.
Let’s Talk About Liver Effects and Statins
You may also hear about potential adverse effects on the liver when people start taking statins.
Because statins are processed in the liver, your doctor will likely perform a series of blood tests when you start undergoing treatment with statins. This is just to check your baseline liver function and to, then, make sure that your liver remains okay as your body gets used to the treatment.
Atorvastatin is more extensively metabolized by the liver than rosuvastatin. This can mean that there is more potential for liver-related issues or associated drug interactions with Lipitor.
Still, it’s a good idea to remember that serious liver problems are uncommon with either drug.
Let’s Talk About Diabetes Risk and Statins
For some people, taking statins can result in a small increase in their blood sugar levels.
If you’re already at risk for diabetes, this can be something to consider as you’re working toward high-quality (and safe) cholesterol treatment.
Both atorvastatin and rosuvastatin share this potential effect. For most patients, the cardiovascular benefits far outweigh this risk.
Which Has More Side Effects, Lipitor or Crestor?
Here’s a quick overview of the different side effects rosuvastatin and atorvastatin present with:
- Rosuvastatin may have a slightly lower incidence of muscle symptoms.
- Atorvastatin may interact with more drugs, which can indirectly increase side effect risks.
- Both are equally safe for most patients when used as directed.
One Last Thing: Side Effects in Seniors
Older adults often take multiple medications to manage, for many of them, multiple conditions.
This is a good thing and it can increase their quality of life.
It can also increase the risk of drug interactions and subsequent complications.
For this reason, doctors sometimes prefer to recommend rosuvastatin to seniors, since it has fewer drug-metabolism pathways in the liver.
However, if the older patient has kidney impairment, they might need to work with their doctor to consider a dosage adjustment. That’s because rosuvastatin is partly cleared by the kidneys, and, especially if the patient is taking multiple meds, they’ll need to make sure their kidneys are not overstressed.
Talking to Your Doctor About Side Effects
If you experience side effects, don’t stop your statin abruptly.
That might feel like an intuitive way to stop your side effects, but that could actually make your experience much worse. (Your side effects are likely caused by fluctuating levels of the medicine in your blood, and stopping your statin will make your blood levels less consistent, not more.)
Instead, talk to your doctor at once. Start a journal of your symptoms – this could be as simple as a note on your phone, with dates and times and details about your side effects.
Share this information with your doctor, and talk through your options. Your doctor will be able to help you adjust your dose or consider other treatment options, as needed.
The Cost of Atorvastatin vs Rosuvastatin
Have you settled on an option for you – Lipitor or Crestor? Atorvastatin or rosuvastatin?
Without thinking about cost, likely not. And there’s a good reason for that.
Particularly in the United States, prescription drugs can cost a lot. A lot. It’s not surprising that the cost of statins is often a deciding factor for patients seeking cholesterol treatment.
Fortunately, both atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor) are available as generic medications.
Here, through NorthWestPharmacy.com – a CIPA-approved Canadian online and international pharmacy website – you can buy either medication for a reliably low price.
You can buy brand Lipitor for about $2.00 per pill, or generic atorvastatin for significantly less per pill.
And, right here, you can buy brand Crestor for about $2.50 per pill, and generic rosuvastatin for far less than half that.
Which Statin Is Cheaper?
Although both of these medications, especially in their generic forms, should be relatively affordable, they aren’t exactly financially equivalent.
On average, atorvastatin tends to be slightly less expensive than rosuvastatin because it’s been generic longer and has more manufacturers producing it. However, the difference in price is often just a few dollars, depending on your dosage and where you buy.
How to Get Atorvastatin or Rosuvastatin Cheaper
The prices we’re noting here may or may not reflect what you’re seeing in your brick and mortar pharmacy down the street, or at the pharmacy counter in your grocery store.
If you didn’t know it, now you do: Different pharmacies are allowed to price their drugs at different price points (and they do).
Taking the time to price check the medications you take at a few different locations can save you a lot of money, especially if you take a medication consistently over the long term – like, for example, a statin.
If you’re looking for a few further ways to stretch your healthcare budget, here are a few accessible tips to keep in mind.
- Buy generic. Always ask your doctor to prescribe atorvastatin or rosuvastatin by their generic name.
- Shop online. International pharmacy websites, like those based in Canada, often offer lower costs than U.S. retail pharmacies.
- Compare dosages. Because rosuvastatin is more potent, you may require a lower dose compared to atorvastatin. Sometimes, for some people, this translates to savings.
- Check your insurance. Most insurance plans cover both statins, but, if you plan to use insurance to cover the cost of some of your medications, both premiums and copays can vary significantly.
Atorvastatin vs Rosuvastatin: How to Choose the Right Statin for You
Choosing between Lipitor vs Crestor often comes down to your individual health needs and lifestyle.
But we understand that just saying that isn’t helpful. If you’re overwhelmed, take a deep breath. Your doctor will help you walk through this decision.
If it helps, here’s a quick overview of how that decision might pan out.
1. Start by Understanding Your Health Profile
Consider your medical history and the symptoms you’re working to treat.
- High LDL cholesterol only? Either statin may work.
- History of cardiovascular disease? Your doctor may prefer rosuvastatin for its higher potency.
- Kidney or liver issues? Dosing adjustments may be needed, and the choice of statin could be influenced by how each drug is processed in the body.
2. Track Your Personal Risk Factors
Start a centralized, easy-to-update note to collect details on…
- Family history of heart disease or stroke
- Lifestyle habits (diet, exercise, smoking)
- Other medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or metabolic syndrome
3. Keep a Close Watch for Side Effects
As you’re starting your medication, keep that notebook or Notes app note ready.
Whenever you feel something out of the ordinary after you begin that medication – an odd stomachache, an unexplained migraine, nausea out of nowhere – write that down. Include the date, and, if you can, go back and update the note when the symptom goes away.
This can help you and your doctor realize if there is a good reason to switch to another medication or reconsider your dosage.
If you and your doctor have determined that either atorvastatin or rosuvastatin is the medication for you, you’re in the right place.
Simply head to our Lipitor or Crestor pages to learn even more about these medications, and, when you’re ready, you can ship these medications directly to your front door (and save big!) by clicking “add to cart.”
Any questions at all? Feel free to reach out to our friendly customer service representatives. The entire team here at NorthWestPharmacy.com looks forward to supporting you and your healthcare journey!
