Key takeaways
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and Pravastatin (Pravachol) are both statins used to lower cholesterol and protect your heart and blood vessels. Atorvastatin is known as a moderate-to-high-intensity statin, meaning it can lower your cholesterol more than many other statins, while Pravastatin is considered a low-to-moderate-intensity statin. Atorvastatin can be taken at any time of the day, whereas Pravastatin is often recommended to be taken at night for better effectiveness. Atorvastatin is available as a lower-cost generic and also comes in a liquid form (Atorvaliq) for those who have trouble swallowing tablets, while Pravastatin is only available as a generic tablet. Both medications can cause serious side effects like muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) and liver problems, but Pravastatin is noted to have fewer interactions with other medications and might be better tolerated. Neither medication is safe to use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
