Lipitor vs. Crestor

• Are Lipitor and Crestor the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Lipitor?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Crestor?
• What Is Lipitor?
• What Is Crestor?
• What Drugs Interact with Lipitor?
• What Drugs Interact with Crestor?
• How Should Lipitor Be Taken?
• How Should Crestor Be Taken?

Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (“statins”) used to treat elevated total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and to elevate HDL cholesterol.

Side effects of Lipitor and Crestor that are similar include constipation, diarrhea, nausea, heartburn/indigestion, headache, and muscle aches or pains.

Side effects of Lipitor that are different from Crestor include fatigue or gas.

Side effects of Crestor that are different from Lipitor include depression, joint pain, sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares), or stomach pain.

Both Lipitor and Crestor may interact with alcohol, birth control pills, other cholesterol-lowering medications, antifungals, or antiviral medicines.

Common side effects of Lipitor include:

• constipation,
• diarrhea,
• nausea,
• fatigue,
• gas,
• heartburn,
• headache, and
• mild muscle pain.

Contact your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Lipitor including:

• muscle wasting and muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis),
• confusion or memory problems,
• fever,
• dark urine,
• increased thirst or hunger,
• drowsiness,
• loss of appetite, or
• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).

Common side effects of Crestor include:

• headache,
• depression,
• muscle aches or pains,
• joint pain,
• sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares),
• constipation,
• nausea,
• stomach pain,
• indigestion, or
• diarrhea.

Infrequent but serious side effects of Crestor include rhabdomyolysis (muscle damage or destruction) that can lead to acute renal failure and liver damage.

Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a statin used for the treatment of elevated total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and to elevate HDL cholesterol.

Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) is a statin drug, that works by slowing the production of cholesterol by the body, used to lower cholesterol and fats (triglycerides) in the blood and is used to reduce the chances of developing problems like heart disease and strokes that can be caused, in part, by high cholesterol levels. It is often recommended to use Crestor in conjunction with a diet low in fats and cholesterol, and exercise (about 30 min. per day). Crestor is available in generic form.

Lipitor may interact with birth control pills, cimetidine, spironolactone, and other "statin" medications.

Lipitor may also interact with conivaptan, imatinib, isoniazid, antibiotics, antidepressants, heart or blood pressure medication, and HIV/AIDS medicines.

Crestor may interact with birth control pills, cimetidine, spironolactone, and other "statin" medications.

Crestor may also interact with blood thinners and niacin.

Take Lipitor exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change your dose or stop Lipitor without talking to your doctor. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels during your treatment with Lipitor. Your dose of Lipitor may be changed based on these blood test results.

Take Lipitor each day at any time of day at about the same time each day. Lipitor can be taken with or without food.

Don't break Lipitor tablets before taking.

Your doctor should start you on a low-fat diet before giving you Lipitor. Stay on this low-fat diet when you take Lipitor.

If you miss a dose of Lipitor, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take Lipitor if it has been more than 12 hours since you missed your last dose. Wait and take the next dose at your regular time.

Do not take 2 doses of Lipitor at the same time.

If you take too much Lipitor or overdose, call your doctor or Poison Control Center right away. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

• Take Crestor exactly as your doctor tells you to take it.
• Take Crestor, by mouth, 1 time each day. Swallow the tablet whole.
• Crestor can be taken at any time of day, with or without food.
• Do not change your dose or stop Crestor without talking to your doctor, even if you are feeling well.
• Your doctor may do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels before and during your treatment with Crestor. Your doctor may change your dose of Crestor if needed.
• Your doctor may start you on a cholesterol lowering diet before giving you Crestor. Stay on this diet when you take Crestor.
• Wait at least 2 hours after taking Crestor to take an antacid that contains a combination of aluminum and magnesium hydroxide.
• If you miss a dose of Crestor, take it as soon as you remember. However, do not take 2 doses of Crestor within 12 hours of each other.
• If you take too much Crestor or overdose, call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.