Two medicines, side by side
Atorvastatin vs colchicine
Atorvastatin is labeled for high cholesterol, angina and high triglycerides; colchicine for gout. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of atorvastatin since 1996 and of colchicine since 2009. Pharmacies paid $0.0228 per atorvastatin 10 mg tablet and $0.122 per colchicine 0.6 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, atorvastatin is a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor and colchicine an alkaloid.
Check it at the source: the atorvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2024); the colchicine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 22, 2025).
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
Highlights of the colchicine record
Colchicine (Colcrys) · label of July 22, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsColchicine is an alkaloid indicated for: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in adults and children 4 years or older ( 1.2 ). 1.2 Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) Colchicine tablets are indicated in adults and children four years or older for treatment of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 29, 2009
- Generic labelers
- 30 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.122 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Atorvastatin label of April 15, 2024, Colchicine label of July 22, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do atorvastatin and colchicine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, atorvastatin is a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor and colchicine an alkaloid.
How each works, in its label's words: 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 …”; Colchicine, “The mechanism by which colchicine exerts its beneficial effect in patients with FMF has not been fully elucidated; however, evidence suggests that colchicine may interfere with the intracellular …”
Generics: atorvastatin since 2011; colchicine since 2016 (Drugs@FDA).
| Atorvastatin | Colchicine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High cholesterol, Angina, High triglycerides, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | Gout |
| Pharmacologic class | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor | Alkaloid |
| How it works (label) | 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. | The mechanism by which colchicine exerts its beneficial effect in patients with FMF has not been fully elucidated; however, evidence suggests that colchicine may interfere with the intracellular assembly of the inflammasome complex present … |
| Half-life (label) | 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. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 17, 1996 | July 29, 2009 |
| First generic approved | November 30, 2011 | September 28, 2016 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 59 labelers | 30 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0228 per tablet (Atorvastatin 10 mg tablet) | $0.122 per tablet (Colchicine 0.6 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -8% | -27% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 53 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 245,894 | 26,198 |
| 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?
Atorvastatin label, drug interactionsColchicine Clinical Impact: Cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have been reported with concomitant use of colchicine with LIPITOR. Intervention: Consider the risk/benefit of concomitant use of colchicine with LIPITOR. If concomitant use is decided, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy particularly during initiation of therapy and …
Atorvastatin label, warnings and precautionsCases of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis have been reported with atorvastatin co-administered with lipid modifying doses (>1 gram/day) of niacin, fibrates, colchicine, and ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ].
Colchicine label, drug interactionsConcomitant Drug Class or Food: HMG-Co A Reductase Inhibitors: atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin; Noted or Anticipated Outcome: Pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic interaction: the addition of one drug to a stable long-term regimen of the other has resulted in myopathy and rhabdomyolysis (including a fatality); …
Colchicine label, warnings and precautionsConcomitant use of atorvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, fenofibric acid or benzafibrate (themselves associated with myotoxicity) or cyclosporine with colchicine may potentiate the development of myopathy [see Drug Interactions (7) ].
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to atorvastatin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions