Two medicines, side by side
Lisinopril vs atorvastatin
Lisinopril and atorvastatin are both labeled for heart attack and coronary artery disease. Drugs@FDA records approvals of lisinopril since 1987 and of atorvastatin since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.0254 per lisinopril 20 mg tablet and $0.0228 per atorvastatin 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Lisinopril's other strengths are brand-only: $4.50 per mL (Qbrelis 1 mg/mL solution). Atorvastatin's other strengths are brand-only: $1.23 per mL (Atorvaliq 20 mg/5 mL suspension). In FDA's classes, lisinopril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and atorvastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the lisinopril FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 2, 2025); the atorvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2024).
Highlights of the lisinopril record
Lisinopril (Zestril) · label of January 2, 2025
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue ZESTRIL as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Zestril as soon as possible.
Used for
From the label: indicationsZestril is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor indicated for: Treatment of hypertension in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older ( 1.1 ) Adjunct therapy for heart failure ( 1.2 ) Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Hypertension Zestril is indicated for the treatment of hypertension in adult patients and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older to lower blood pressure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 29, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0254 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 28
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
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Lisinopril label of January 2, 2025, Atorvastatin label of April 15, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do lisinopril and atorvastatin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, lisinopril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and atorvastatin a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor.
How each works, in its label's words: Lisinopril, “Lisinopril inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals.”; 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 …”
Half-life, in each label's words: Lisinopril, “Upon multiple dosing, lisinopril exhibits an effective half-life of 12 hours.”; Atorvastatin, “Mean plasma elimination half-life of LIPITOR in humans is approximately 14 hours, but the half-life of inhibitory …”
Only the lisinopril label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: lisinopril since 2002; atorvastatin since 2011 (Drugs@FDA).
| Lisinopril | Atorvastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Heart failure | High cholesterol, Angina, High triglycerides, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Lisinopril inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals. ACE is a peptidyl dipeptidase that catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to the vasoconstrictor substance, angiotensin II. | 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. |
| Half-life (label) | Upon multiple dosing, lisinopril exhibits an effective half-life of 12 hours. | 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. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 29, 1987 | December 17, 1996 |
| First generic approved | July 1, 2002 | November 30, 2011 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 59 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0254 per tablet (Lisinopril 20 mg tablet) | $0.0228 per tablet (Atorvastatin 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 28 | 53 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 304,309 | 245,894 |
| 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 lisinopril
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions