Medication class
Cholesterol
Statins and other lipid-lowering medications that reduce cholesterol and triglycerides to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 22
- Medications
- 15
- With a generic
- 87%
- Avg generic savings
- 0
- In active shortage
Drug class assignments follow the FDA openFDA therapeutic classification, and clinical details are drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling (DailyMed). See the full sources below.
PlainMeds tracks 22 cholesterol medications compiled from official FDA drug labels, including simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin.
Cholesterol medications are grouped here by the openFDA therapeutic classification and drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling. PlainMeds lists 22 in this class, 15 with a lower-cost generic available (averaging about 87% versus brand). Each drug page covers labeled uses, FAERS-reported side effects, interactions, recalls and NADAC pricing. This is educational information from public data, not medical advice.
What cholesterol drugs cost
Highest NADAC acquisition cost per unit in this class, brand and generic
- evolocumab
evolocumab
$271 per unit
- alirocumab
alirocumab
$244 per unit
- bempedoic acid/ezetimibe $13
bempedoic acid/ezetimibe
$13 per unit
- bempedoic acid $13
bempedoic acid
$13 per unit
- ezetimibe $13
ezetimibe
$13 per unit
- ezetimibe/simvastatin $13
ezetimibe/simvastatin
$13 per unit
- atorvastatin $12
atorvastatin
$12 per unit
- pitavastatin $10
pitavastatin
$10 per unit
- simvastatin $9
simvastatin
$9 per unit
- rosuvastatin $9
rosuvastatin
$9 per unit
What this shows evolocumab is the costliest in this class at $271.00/unit; generics in the same class run a fraction of that.
Generic availability vs other classes
68% of cholesterol medications have a generic available, ranking #15 of 22 therapeutic classes (the typical class sits near 74%).
Source: CMS NADAC generic-availability flags across all PlainMeds therapeutic classes. The dot is this class; the line is the cross-class median.
alirocumab
Praluent
Praluent is a medicine that can lower cholesterol.
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atorvastatin
Lipitor
Atorvastatin is a drug that lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart problems and stroke.
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bempedoic acid
Nexletol
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bempedoic acid/ezetimibe
Nexlizet
Nexlizet is a combination medicine that helps lower cholesterol.
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cholestyramine
Questran
Cholestyramine is a medicine that helps lower high cholesterol levels in your blood.
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colestipol
Colestid
Colestipol is a drug that helps lower cholesterol levels in your blood.
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evolocumab
Repatha
Repatha is a medicine that can lower cholesterol.
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ezetimibe
Zetia
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ezetimibe/simvastatin
Vytorin
Vytorin is a combination medicine that contains ezetimibe and simvastatin.
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fenofibrate
TriCor, Antara
Fenofibrate is a medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol and fats (triglycerides) in your blood, while raising good cholesterol.
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fluvastatin
Lescol
Fluvastatin (Lescol) is a medicine that helps lower cholesterol levels in your blood.
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gemfibrozil
Lopid
Gemfibrozil is a medicine that helps lower high triglyceride levels in your blood.
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icosapent ethyl
Vascepa
Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) is a medicine that helps lower very high triglyceride levels in adults.
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inclisiran
Leqvio
Leqvio is a medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults.
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lovastatin
Mevacor, Altoprev
Lovastatin is a medicine that helps lower cholesterol levels in your blood.
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niacin OTC
Niaspan, Slo-Niacin
This medicine is a multivitamin with fluoride.
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omega-3 acid ethyl esters
Lovaza, Vascepa
Omega-3-acid ethyl esters are a type of medicine that helps lower very high triglyceride levels in adults.
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pitavastatin
Livalo
Pitavastatin (Livalo) is a drug that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) in your blood.
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pravastatin
Pravachol
Pravastatin is a drug that lowers cholesterol.
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rosuvastatin
Crestor
Rosuvastatin is a drug that lowers cholesterol.
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rosuvastatin/ezetimibe
Roszet
Roszet contains rosuvastatin, which is a statin medicine.
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simvastatin
Zocor
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Understanding the Cholesterol Category
The Cholesterol category currently lists 22 medications in this database, each drawn from FDA drug labels and grouped by therapeutic classification. Statins and other lipid-lowering medications that reduce cholesterol and triglycerides to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Clinical guidelines usually treat these medications as a reference set when weighing treatment options, switching strategies, or comparing safety profiles.
Within this category you'll find examples such as simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, alongside 19 other entries. Each drug page links to the same underlying FDA data, labeled uses, adverse events reported to FAERS, documented interactions, warnings, and, where available, NADAC acquisition pricing from CMS. Over-the-counter and prescription options can sit in the same category but follow different regulatory pathways: OTC products have simplified labeling aimed at self-care, while prescription drugs include detailed monographs meant for clinicians. That distinction matters when comparing dosing, monitoring requirements, and contraindications.
Browsing a category is a research starting point, not a treatment recommendation. Effectiveness, tolerability, and cost for any individual patient depend on the specific condition, comorbidities, other medications, genetics, and insurance coverage, none of which can be inferred from a category list alone. FAERS report counts, recall history, and shortage status all evolve as new data is reported to the FDA, so the relative standing of drugs in this class can shift month to month. This page is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, a licensed clinician is the right source for personalized guidance.
Explore other categories
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.