Two medicines, side by side
Amlodipine vs atorvastatin
Amlodipine and atorvastatin are both labeled for angina and heart attack and coronary artery disease. Drugs@FDA records approvals of amlodipine since 1992 and of atorvastatin since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.0102 per amlodipine besylate 5 mg tablet and $0.0228 per atorvastatin 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Atorvastatin's other strengths are brand-only: $1.23 per mL (Atorvaliq 20 mg/5 mL suspension). In FDA's classes, amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker and atorvastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the amlodipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 15, 2023); the atorvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2024).
Highlights of the amlodipine record
Amlodipine (Norvasc) · label of February 15, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsNORVASC is a calcium channel blocker and may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive and antianginal agents for the treatment of: • Hypertension ( 1.1 ) o NORVASC is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 31, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 42 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0102 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 30
Highlights of the atorvastatin record
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) · label of April 15, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsLIPITOR is indicated: • To reduce the risk of: o Myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina in adults with multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) but without clinically evident CHD o MI and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with multiple risk factors for CHD but without clinically evident CHD o Non-fatal MI, fatal and non-fatal stroke, revascularization […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 17, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 59 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0228 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 53
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Amlodipine label of February 15, 2023, Atorvastatin label of April 15, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do amlodipine and atorvastatin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker and atorvastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
How each works, in its label's words: Amlodipine, “Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist (calcium ion antagonist or slow‑channel blocker) that inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac …”; Atorvastatin, “LIPITOR is a selective, competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A to mevalonate, a precursor of sterols, including …”
Generics: amlodipine since 2005; atorvastatin since 2011 (Drugs@FDA).
| Amlodipine | Atorvastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | High cholesterol, Angina, High triglycerides, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Calcium Channel Blocker, Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist (calcium ion antagonist or slow‑channel blocker) that inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle. | LIPITOR is a selective, competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A to mevalonate, a precursor of sterols, including cholesterol. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Mean plasma elimination half-life of LIPITOR in humans is approximately 14 hours, but the half-life of inhibitory activity for HMG-CoA reductase is 20 to 30 hours due to the contribution of active metabolites. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 31, 1992 | December 17, 1996 |
| First generic approved | October 3, 2005 | November 30, 2011 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 42 labelers | 59 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0102 per tablet (Amlodipine besylate 5 mg tablet) | $0.0228 per tablet (Atorvastatin 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 30 | 53 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 409,186 | 245,894 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Amlodipine label, drug interactionsCo-administered amlodipine does not affect the exposure to atorvastatin, digoxin, ethanol and the warfarin prothrombin response time.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to amlodipine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions