What Are the Differences Between Crestor and Lipitor?
There are a few differences between the approved uses for Lipitor and Crestor. Although these differences are extremely important to the people and companies that market these drugs, the differences are probably unimportant for most practical purposes for most people. These differences are likely to disappear over time, as both medications are studied more and are approved for additional uses.
Another important difference is the potential for interactions with grapefruit juice. Crestor does not appear to interact with grapefruit juice (see Crestor and Grapefruit), while Lipitor does interact with grapefruit juice (see Lipitor and Grapefruit).
Is Lipitor or Crestor Better?
One study compared Crestor with various statins, including Lipitor. Crestor seemed to be a little more effective than Lipitor when directly compared (Lipitor 10 mg vs. Crestor 10 mg, Lipitor 20 mg vs. Crestor 20 mg, and Lipitor 40 mg vs. Crestor 40 mg). However, this study lasted only six weeks and was "open label" (both the patients and the healthcare providers knew which medications were given).
Currently, the SATURN study is underway to compare Crestor 40 mg to Lipitor 80 mg for decreasing or reducing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This study is set to end in 2011 and will likely provide a wealth of information about Crestor versus Lipitor.
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