lovastatin vs simvastatin
Side-by-side comparison of lovastatin and simvastatin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
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Lovastatin is a medicine that helps lower cholesterol levels in your blood. It belongs to a class of drugs called statins.
Ezetimibe and simvastatin is a combination medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) in your blood. It can also reduce the risk of heart problems like heart attack and stroke.
Lovastatin is used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart problems. It can help prevent heart attacks, unstable angina (chest pain), and the need for procedures to open blocked arteries. It's also used to slow down the hardening of arteries in people who already have heart disease. Lovastatin can also be used in children 10-17 years of age with high cholesterol due to genetic causes.
This medicine is used to lower high LDL cholesterol. It is used along with a healthy diet. It can help adults and children 10 years and older who have certain inherited cholesterol problems. It can also lower the risk of heart problems in adults with heart disease, blood vessel disease, or diabetes.
Lovastatin works by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. This helps to lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Lowering cholesterol helps to prevent heart disease and stroke.
Ezetimibe and simvastatin works in two ways to lower cholesterol. Ezetimibe stops your body from absorbing cholesterol from food. Simvastatin blocks a substance your body needs to make cholesterol.
- • Abdominal pain
- • Constipation
- • Diarrhea
- • Gas
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Upper respiratory tract infection
- • Muscle pain
- • Diarrhea
- The medicine is not working 1,660
- Feeling tired 1,519
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,395
- Loose, watery stools 1,250
- Difficulty breathing 1,210
- Tiredness 13,573
- Feeling sick to your stomach 12,944
- Shortness of breath 12,429
- Diarrhea 11,813
- Medicine not working 11,356
Lovastatin can cause muscle problems, including muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), which can lead to kidney damage. The risk is higher if you take certain other medicines with lovastatin. You should not take lovastatin if you have liver problems or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
This medicine can cause muscle problems, including rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney damage and death. The risk is higher if you are over 65, have kidney problems, or take certain other medicines. Tell your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. This medicine can also cause liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before and during treatment.
You should not take lovastatin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who could become pregnant, use effective birth control while taking lovastatin.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. It can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, as it is not recommended during treatment with this medicine.
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How to Read This lovastatin vs simvastatin Comparison
lovastatin is classified in the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) drug class, while simvastatin 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, lovastatin has 7,034 submissions while simvastatin has 62,115. 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 lovastatin and simvastatin — 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.