Two medicines, side by side
Rosuvastatin vs lovastatin
Rosuvastatin and lovastatin are both labeled for heart attack and coronary artery disease and high cholesterol. Drugs@FDA records approvals of rosuvastatin since 2003 and of lovastatin since 1987. Pharmacies paid $0.0692 per rosuvastatin calcium 40 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.
Check it at the source: the rosuvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 4, 2026); the lovastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 2026).
Highlights of the rosuvastatin record
Rosuvastatin (Crestor) · label of September 4, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsRosuvastatin tablets are indicated: To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or an arterial revascularization procedure) in adults at increased risk for CV events. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 12, 2003
- Generic labelers
- 45 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0692 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 13
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 (Rosuvastatin label of September 4, 2026, Lovastatin label of May 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do rosuvastatin and lovastatin differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
Generics: rosuvastatin since 2016; lovastatin since 2001 (Drugs@FDA).
| Rosuvastatin | Lovastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart attack and coronary artery disease, High cholesterol, High triglycerides, Stroke prevention | High cholesterol, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Rosuvastatin is an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A to mevalonate, a precursor of cholesterol. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The elimination half-life of rosuvastatin is approximately 19 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 12, 2003 | August 31, 1987 |
| First generic approved | April 29, 2016 | December 17, 2001 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 45 labelers | 19 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0692 per tablet (Rosuvastatin calcium 40 mg tablet) | $0.0436 per tablet (Lovastatin 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -7% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 13 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 110,043 | 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 rosuvastatin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions