Key takeaways
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and Lovastatin (Mevacor) are both statins used to lower cholesterol, but they have some key differences. Atorvastatin is a moderate-to-high intensity statin, meaning it can lower cholesterol levels more significantly than Lovastatin, which is a low-to-moderate intensity statin. Atorvastatin can be taken at any time of the day, while Lovastatin is typically taken in the evening with food. Both medications can cause muscle pain and a rare but serious condition called rhabdomyolysis, but muscle pain is less common with Lovastatin. Both medications are available as generics. But Atorvastatin also comes in a liquid form (Atorvaliq) for those who have trouble swallowing pills, whereas Lovastatin does not have a liquid option. Both medications should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding and require a prescription.
