Two medicines, side by side
Atorvastatin vs fenofibrate
Atorvastatin and fenofibrate are both labeled for high cholesterol and high triglycerides. Drugs@FDA records approvals of atorvastatin since 1996 and of fenofibrate since 1993. Pharmacies paid $0.0228 per atorvastatin 10 mg tablet and $0.103 per fenofibrate 160 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 fenofibrate a peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha agonist.
Check it at the source: the atorvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2024); the fenofibrate FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 29, 2024).
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 fenofibrate record
Fenofibrate (Tricor) · label of April 29, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsTRICOR is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha agonist indicated as an adjunct to diet: To reduce elevated LDL-C, Total-C, TG and Apo B, and to increase HDL-C in adult patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia ( 1.1 ). For treatment of adult patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia ( 1.2 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 31, 1993
- Generic labelers
- 54 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.103 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 8
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Atorvastatin label of April 15, 2024, Fenofibrate label of April 29, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do atorvastatin and fenofibrate differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, atorvastatin is a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor and fenofibrate a peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha agonist.
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 …”; Fenofibrate, “The active moiety of TRICOR is fenofibric acid.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Atorvastatin, “Mean plasma elimination half-life of LIPITOR in humans is approximately 14 hours, but the half-life of inhibitory …”; Fenofibrate, “Fenofibric acid is eliminated with a half-life of 20 hours, allowing once daily dosing.”
Generics: atorvastatin since 2011; fenofibrate since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
| Atorvastatin | Fenofibrate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High cholesterol, Angina, High triglycerides, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | High cholesterol, High triglycerides |
| Pharmacologic class | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor | Peroxisome Proliferator Receptor alpha Agonist |
| 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 active moiety of TRICOR is fenofibric acid. The pharmacological effects of fenofibric acid in both animals and humans have been extensively studied through oral administration of fenofibrate. |
| 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. | Fenofibric acid is eliminated with a half-life of 20 hours, allowing once daily dosing. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 17, 1996 | December 31, 1993 |
| First generic approved | November 30, 2011 | April 9, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 59 labelers | 54 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0228 per tablet (Atorvastatin 10 mg tablet) | $0.103 per tablet (Fenofibrate 160 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -8% | -14% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 53 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 245,894 | 35,248 |
| 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 interactionsNamed in a table that the FDA label file prints without its column breaks; the full label shows the table.
Atorvastatin label, drug interactionsNamed in a table that the FDA label file prints without its column breaks; the full label shows the table.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to atorvastatin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions