pitavastatin vs simvastatin
Side-by-side comparison of pitavastatin and simvastatin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Livalo
Zocor
Pitavastatin (Livalo) is a drug that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) in your blood. It is used along with a healthy diet.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- • Muscle pain
- • Constipation
- • Back pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Pain in your arms or legs
- • Headache
- • Upper respiratory tract infection
- • Muscle pain
- • Diarrhea
- Muscle pain 408
- Diarrhea 335
- Feeling dizzy 285
- Difficulty breathing 281
- Loss of appetite 280
- Tiredness 13,573
- Feeling sick to your stomach 12,944
- Shortness of breath 12,429
- Diarrhea 11,813
- Medicine not working 11,356
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.
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.
Do not take pitavastatin if you are pregnant. It can harm your unborn baby. Breastfeeding is also not recommended while taking this medicine.
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 pitavastatin vs simvastatin Comparison
pitavastatin 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, pitavastatin has 1,589 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 pitavastatin 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.