High cholesterol (and triglycerides) triggers when the fat in your blood exceeds the healthy range.
Crestor and Lipitor also help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
While theyre primarily used in adults, both are approved to treat high cholesterol in children with inherited conditions.
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When comparing Crestor vs. Lipitor, there are many similarities and several differences.
For example, the medications contain different active ingredients.
Crestor is approved to reduce plaque buildup in your arteries, while Lipitor relieves chest pain.
Some side effects are similar to both, while others are different.
How They Work
Each statin has a different active ingredient.
Crestor contains rosuvastatin, while Lipitor consists of atorvastatin.
However, both active ingredients work the same way.
Rosuvastatin and atorvastatin are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
That means they block an enzyme the liver needs to produce cholesterol.
(Your liver supplies all the cholesterol your body needs.)
As a result, bad cholesterol levels drop.
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors also increase the amount of cholesterol removed from your bloodstream.
However, your cholesterol levels may temporarily increase if you begin with Crestor and then change to Lipitor.
You may also experience new side effects.
Additional Uses of Crestor
Crestor is FDA-approved to slow the buildup of cholesterol in artery walls.
Reducing the fatty plaque helps prevent clogged arteries (atherosclerosis).
Like Crestor, Lipitor can treat people with heterozygous and homozygous hypercholesterolemia.
Both medications can also cause serious side effects that need immediate attention.
Common Side Effects
This table shows the most common side effects sparked by Crestor and Lipitor.
However, you may experience other side effects that aren’t on this list.
You’ll find comprehensive information in the prescribing information for each medication.
High blood sugar is one of the least common side effects of statins.
Cognitive symptoms should improve after you stop taking the medication.
However, consult your healthcare provider before stopping medication.
A study published in 2023 compared three-year outcomes for Crestor and Lipitor.
Both achieved similar results, including lowering the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death.
How Fast Do They Work?
Crestor and Lipitor both start working in a few weeks, with optimal results in six weeks.
The most common signs of an allergic response are a rash, itching, and hives.
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have any symptoms, even if they’re mild.
These are signs of a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction needing rapid medical care.
When taken with statins, some medications may increase your risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.
Other medications can lower the statins effectiveness.
Be sure your healthcare provider is aware of all the medications and supplements you take.
They also prevent life-threatening events like heart attacks and strokes and lower the risk of needing heart surgery.
Like all drugs, Crestor and Lipitor may cause common but temporary side effects.
They can also result in serious complications, especially myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.
However, they’re generally considered to be safe and highly effective.
DailyMed.Label: Crestor- rosuvastatin calcium tablet, film coated.
DailyMed.Label: Lipitor- atorvastatin calcium tablet, film coated.
US Food and Drug Administration.Lipitor prescribing information.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Crestor prescribing information.
US Food and Drug Administration.FDA drug safety communication: Important safety label changes to cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.
2023 Oct 18;383:e075837.
Crestor.Savings card (coupon).
Senior Living.Best prescription discount cards in 2025.
Healthgrades for Professionals.5 popular prescription discount cards.
