Is there any difference between Lipitor and atorvastatin?

Is there any difference between Lipitor and atorvastatin?

Lipitor is a brand-name medication manufactured by Pfizer. The generic name of Lipitor is atorvastatin. It is used to treat high cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Lipitor is prescribed to be taken once daily in the morning or evening.

Are all brands of atorvastatin the same?

It is a prescription drug and comes as a generic and brand name (Lipitor) product. Both products come in strengths of 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg.

Does Lipitor have generic equivalent?

Generic Lipitor is called atorvastatin or, sometimes, atorvastatin calcium.

Is brand-name Lipitor better than generic?

Generic atorvastatin is as effective as the brand-name drug (LIPITOR ®) in lowering cholesterol levels: a cross-sectional retrospective cohort study. BMC Res Notes.

Is atorvastatin a lifetime medication?

Statins are typically very successful at lowering cholesterol, but they only work as long as you’re taking them. Therefore, most people who begin taking a statin medication will likely take it for the rest of their lives.

What can I take instead of Lipitor?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins

• Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis.
• Plant stanols and sterols.
• Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins.
• Niacin.
• Policosanol.
• Red yeast rice extract (RYRE)
• Natural products.

Is generic Lipitor just as good?

My answer to them and to you is pretty much the standard advice: the generic version of Lipitor, called atorvastatin, is highly likely to be just as safe and effective as Lipitor, but also cheaper. And under most health insurance plans, that means cheaper for you, because of lower co-pays, not just for the insurance company.

Is there a generic drug available for Lipitor?

Nov. 29, 2011 — The cholesterol -lowering drug Lipitor — the best-selling prescription drug in world history — will be available as a generic drug beginning Nov. 30. Lipitor’s generic name is atorvastatin. Two generic drugmakers, Ranbaxy and Watson, can start selling generic atorvastatin in the U.S. right away.

How much is Lipitor generic?

In return for getting Lipitor at a discount, the companies would offer the brand-name drug for about a $10 co-payment. That’s the typical co-payment for a generic drug. Co-pays for brand-name Lipitor currently run about $25 or more. The downside: Some participating pharmacies will not offer generic Lipitor.

Is there a generic form of Lipitor?

For lipitor, the generic name is atorvastatin. This is not the same as a “generic version” of a drug. In order for there to be a generic version, the brand name must have gone off-patent and another company besides the orignial manufactuer must be making the medicine.