What Is the Difference Between Lipitor & Crestor?

How They Work

• Lipitor and Crestor block HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that controls the cholesterol production rate in the body.
  
  

Side Effects

• Common side effects of Lipitor and Crestor include muscle tenderness and constipation and nausea. Some people taking Crestor might also experience nausea, while those taking Lipitor may suffer from diarrhea.
  
  

Uses

• Lipitor has been around longer than Crestor and thus has been studied more thoroughly. So it is approved for a few other uses besides reduction of cholesterol. Those include reduction of the risk of stroke, heart attack and chest pain.
  
  

Interaction with Grapefruit Juice

• You can consume Crestor with grapefruit juice without any significant adverse effects. The same cannot be said for Lipitor; a combination of the drug and juice can cause serious muscle problems.
  
  

Which Is Better

• Your health-care provider need to decide which is better for you in accordance with your situation. Moreover, your insurance company might prefer Lipitor over Crestor, or vice versa. That can determine the amount of co-payment you will need to make.