atorvastatin vs pitavastatin
Side-by-side comparison of atorvastatin and pitavastatin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Lipitor
Livalo
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.
Pitavastatin (Livalo) is a drug that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) in your blood. It is used along with a healthy diet.
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.
Pitavastatin is used to lower LDL-C (bad cholesterol) in adults. It is for adults who have high cholesterol or who have a genetic condition called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). This medicine works best when you also follow a low-cholesterol diet.
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.
Pitavastatin belongs to a class of drugs called statins. It works by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. This helps to lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood.
- • Common cold symptoms
- • Joint pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Pain in arms or legs
- • Urinary tract infection
- • Muscle pain
- • Constipation
- • Back pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Pain in your arms or legs
- Tiredness 13,809
- The medicine is not working 12,861
- Feeling sick to your stomach 12,421
- Type 2 diabetes 11,243
- Diarrhea 11,034
- Muscle pain 408
- Diarrhea 335
- Feeling dizzy 285
- Difficulty breathing 281
- Loss of appetite 280
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.
Pitavastatin can cause muscle problems, including myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Tell your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. Pitavastatin can also cause liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before and during treatment.
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 pitavastatin if you are pregnant. It can harm your unborn baby. Breastfeeding is also not recommended while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This atorvastatin vs pitavastatin Comparison
atorvastatin is classified in the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) drug class, while pitavastatin sits within the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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 61,368 submissions while pitavastatin has 1,589. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. 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 pitavastatin — 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.