atorvastatin vs leflunomide
Side-by-side comparison of atorvastatin and leflunomide. 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
For other substrates of BCRP (e.g., mitoxantrone) and drugs in the OATP family (e.g., methotrexate, rifampin), especially HMG-Co reductase inhibitors (e.g., atorvastatin, nateglinide, pravastatin, repaglinide, and simvastatin), consider reducing the dose of these drugs and monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of increased exposures to the drugs while patients are taking leflunomide [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to lower your dose of atorvastatin and monitor you for signs of drug toxicity.
Lipitor
Arava
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.
Leflunomide is a drug that can help reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. It works by slowing down the body's immune system.
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.
Leflunomide treats active rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. This medicine can help reduce these symptoms.
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.
Leflunomide is a pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor. This means it blocks a certain process in your body. By blocking this process, it can reduce inflammation and slow down the damage to your joints.
- • Common cold symptoms
- • Joint pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Pain in arms or legs
- • Urinary tract infection
- • Diarrhea
- • Respiratory infection
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Rash
- Tiredness 13,809
- Feeling sick to your stomach 12,421
- Type 2 diabetes 11,243
- Diarrhea 11,034
- Difficulty breathing 11,029
- Rheumatoid arthritis 24,921
- Pain 20,055
- Joint pain 16,943
- Swollen joint 15,567
- Tiredness 15,384
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.
This drug can cause serious harm to an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, you should not take this medicine. This drug can also cause serious liver problems. If you have liver problems, you should not take this medicine. Your doctor will monitor your liver with blood tests.
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.
Do not take leflunomide if you are pregnant. It can cause birth defects. If you are breastfeeding, you should stop while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This atorvastatin vs leflunomide Comparison
atorvastatin is classified in the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) drug class, while leflunomide sits within the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) 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 leflunomide has 92,870. 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 leflunomide can interfere with how your body moves and clears atorvastatin, potentially leading to higher levels of the drug 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 leflunomide - 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.