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atorvastatin vs efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Side-by-side comparison of atorvastatin and efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: Atorvastatin Pravastatin Simvastatin ↓ atorvastatin * ↓ pravastatin * ↓ simvastatin * Plasma concentrations of atorvastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin decreased.

Recommendation: Your doctor may need to check your cholesterol levels and adjust your dose to make sure the medicine is working.

Drug Class
atorvastatin HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin)
efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir NNRTI / NRTI Combination
Type
atorvastatin Prescription
efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir Prescription
Summary
atorvastatin

Atorvastatin is a drug that lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart problems and stroke. It belongs to a class of drugs called statins.

efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Efavirenz is a drug used to treat HIV-1 infection. It belongs to a class of drugs called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI).

What It Treats
atorvastatin

Atorvastatin is used to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides in your blood. It can help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and the need for heart procedures in adults with heart disease or risk factors for it. It is also used in children 10 years and older with certain inherited cholesterol problems.

efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Efavirenz is used to treat HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. It helps to lower the amount of virus in your body. This medicine must be used with other HIV medicines.

How It Works
atorvastatin

Atorvastatin works by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. This helps to lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Lowering cholesterol can help prevent heart disease.

efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Efavirenz blocks an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. HIV needs this enzyme to make copies of itself. By blocking it, efavirenz helps to slow down the spread of HIV in your body.

Common Side Effects
atorvastatin
  • Common cold symptoms
  • Joint pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Pain in arms or legs
  • Urinary tract infection
efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir
  • Rash
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
FAERS Reports
atorvastatin
  • Tiredness 13,809
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 12,421
  • Type 2 diabetes 11,243
  • Diarrhea 11,034
  • Difficulty breathing 11,029
efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir
  • Virologic Failure 952
  • Drug Interaction 748
  • Drug Resistance 735
  • Viral Mutation Identified 674
  • Pathogen Resistance 623
Serious Warnings
atorvastatin

Atorvastatin can cause muscle problems, including muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. In rare cases, this can lead to serious kidney damage. Tell your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. Atorvastatin can also cause liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking atorvastatin and while you are taking it.

efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Efavirenz can cause serious side effects, including psychiatric problems like depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. Efavirenz can also harm your liver. Your doctor should check your liver function before and during treatment. Do not take efavirenz by itself.

Pregnancy
atorvastatin

Atorvastatin can harm an unborn baby. You should not take atorvastatin if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is also not recommended to breastfeed while taking atorvastatin.

efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Efavirenz can harm your unborn baby, especially during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about using birth control while taking this medicine. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking efavirenz.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This atorvastatin vs efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir Comparison

atorvastatin is classified in the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) drug class, while efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir sits within the NNRTI / NRTI Combination class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, atorvastatin has 59,536 submissions while efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir has 3,732. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to the hiv medicine makes your body process the cholesterol drug more quickly, lowering its level in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between atorvastatin and efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.