Are Atorvastatin and Simvastatin the Same?

Both simvastatin and atorvastatin are film-coated tablets that you take by mouth, usually once per day. Simvastatin comes under the name Zocor, while Lipitor is the brand name for atorvastatin. Each is available as a generic product, as well.

Can simvastatin be substituted for atorvastatin?

In controlled dosing studies, simvastatin 40 mg and atorvastatin 10 mg and 20 mg are equally effective. Simvastatin 40 mg lowers plasma concentrations of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 3% more than atorvastatin 10 mg and 4% less than atorvastatin 20 mg.

Which one is better simvastatin or atorvastatin?

No strong head-to-head trials comparing atorvastatin and simvastatin have been conducted. However, atorvastatin is considered a more potent drug than simvastatin. In one recent comparative study, atorvastatin was found to be more effective at lowering LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) than simvastatin.