Crestor vs. Lipitor

Many people may wonder what the difference is between Lipitor versus Crestor. While both medications are statins and are effective for lowering cholesterol, there are some differences. Lipitor is known to interact with grapefruit juice, but there are no dietary restrictions for Crestor. One short study showed that Crestor was more effective than Lipitor, but more research is needed to confirm these findings.

Comparing Lipitor and Crestor: An Overview

Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) and Crestor® (rosuvastatin calcium) are both cholesterol medications. They are quite similar in many aspects; however, there are a few important differences between the two medications.
 

Crestor Versus Lipitor: The Similarities

Both Crestor and Lipitor belong to a class of drugs called
 statins (also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors). Statins work by blocking a particular enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol. Both medications are very effective for lowering cholesterol.
 
Crestor side effects and Lipitor side effects are similar, and both medications carry similar warnings and precautions (see Crestor Precautions and Warnings and Lipitor Precautions and Warnings). In addition, both drugs should not be taken during pregnancy.
 

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(Crestor vs. Lipitor Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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