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Fluvastatin vs. Atorvastatin

Fluvastatin is a low-to-moderate intensity statin that's usually added onto a heart-healthy diet for people with high cholesterol. It lowers "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides and raises "good" cholesterol in the body. It also helps lower the risk of complications like heart attack and stroke in adults with heart disease. Generic fluvastatin immediate-release (IR) capsules are taken once or twice a day. There are also extended-release (ER) tablets that are taken once a day. The ER tablets are available under the brand name Lescol XL and as generic. Side effects include headache and indigestion.

• Treatment of high cholesterol in adults
• Treatment of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH, a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol) in people age 10 years and older
• Lower the risk of complications (e.g., heart attack) in adults with heart disease

Immediate-release capsule:

• Headache (9%)
• Indigestion (8%)
• Flu-like symptoms (5%)
• Muscle pain (5%)
• Diarrhea (5%)
• Stomach pain (5%)

Extended-release tablet:

• Flu-like symptoms (7%)
• Headache (5%)
• Muscle pain (4%)
• Stomach pain (4%)
• Indigestion (4%)
• Sinus infection (4%)

• Severe muscle pain and damage
• Liver problems
• Higher blood sugar levels
• Risk of harm during pregnancy or breastfeeding

Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is a statin that helps lower cholesterol. As a moderate-to-high-intensity statin, it can lower cholesterol by a greater amount than many other statins. It can also help protect your heart health. The dosage is taken by mouth once a day. Atorvastatin tablets are available as brand-name Lipitor and a generic. There's also a liquid form that only comes as brand name Atorvaliq. It's possible to have side effects like muscle pain, joint pain, and stomach upset. Most times, atorvastatin (Lipitor) is taken along with a heart-healthy diet to get the most benefits from treatment.

• High cholesterol in adults
• High triglycerides in adults
• Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) in people ages 10 years and older
• Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in people ages 10 years and older
• Lowering the risk of heart or blood vessel problems (e.g., heart attack, stroke) in adults at high risk

• Common cold symptoms (8%)
• Joint pain (7%)
• Diarrhea (7%)
• Pain in arms or legs (6%)
• Urinary tract infection (UTI; 6%)
• Indigestion (5%)

• Severe muscle pain and damage
• Liver problems
• Higher blood sugar levels
• Possible higher risk of brain bleed in certain people taking the 80 mg dose
• Possible risk of harm when taken while pregnant or breastfeeding