Two medicines, side by side
Atorvastatin vs lovastatin
Atorvastatin and lovastatin are both labeled for heart attack and coronary artery disease and high cholesterol. Drugs@FDA records approvals of atorvastatin since 1996 and of lovastatin since 1987. Pharmacies paid $0.0228 per atorvastatin 10 mg tablet and $0.0436 per lovastatin 20 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).
Check it at the source: the atorvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2024); the lovastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 2026).
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 lovastatin record
Lovastatin (Mevacor) · label of May 6, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTherapy with lovastatin tablets USP should be a component of multiple risk factor intervention in those individuals with dyslipidemia at risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 31, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 19 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0436 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Atorvastatin label of April 15, 2024, Lovastatin label of May 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do atorvastatin and lovastatin differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
Generics: atorvastatin since 2011; lovastatin since 2001 (Drugs@FDA).
| Atorvastatin | Lovastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High cholesterol, Angina, High triglycerides, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | High cholesterol, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor |
| 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. | n/a |
| 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 | August 31, 1987 |
| First generic approved | November 30, 2011 | December 17, 2001 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 59 labelers | 19 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0228 per tablet (Atorvastatin 10 mg tablet) | $0.0436 per tablet (Lovastatin 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -8% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 53 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 245,894 | 25,526 |
| 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)
What next?
- Alternatives to atorvastatin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions