Is crestor stronger than lipitor?

How Do Crestor and Lipitor Compare in Strength?

Crestor (rosuvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin) are both statins that lower LDL cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase. Crestor is generally stronger on a milligram-per-milligram basis, achieving greater LDL reductions at equivalent or lower doses.[1][2]

LDL Reduction by Dose

• Crestor 10 mg lowers LDL by 46-52%.
  
• Lipitor 10 mg lowers LDL by 37-41%.
  
• Crestor 20 mg: 52-55% reduction.
  
• Lipitor 20 mg: 43-46%.
  
• Crestor 40 mg (max dose): up to 60% reduction.
  
• Lipitor 80 mg (max dose): 50-60% reduction.
  
  Crestor reaches maximum potency at lower doses, making it more efficient for high-risk patients needing aggressive LDL drops.[1][3]
  
  

When Is Crestor Prescribed Over Lipitor?

Doctors choose Crestor for patients with very high LDL (>190 mg/dL), familial hypercholesterolemia, or when Lipitor fails to hit targets. Crestor also raises HDL slightly more and lowers triglycerides better at high doses.[2][4] Lipitor is often first-line due to its longer track record and generic availability since 2011.

Side Effects and Tolerability

Both cause muscle pain (myalgia) in 5-10% of users, with rare rhabdomyolysis. Crestor has higher rates of diabetes risk (0.2-0.5% increased incidence) and proteinuria at high doses. Lipitor may cause more liver enzyme elevations. No clear winner on safety—depends on patient factors like kidney function.[3][5]

Cost and Availability

Generics for both are widely available:
- Generic rosuvastatin (Crestor): $10-30/month.
- Generic atorvastatin (Lipitor): $5-20/month.
Lipitor is cheaper due to earlier patent expiry (May 2011 vs. Crestor's August 2016).[6]

Who Makes Them and Patent Status?

AstraZeneca makes Crestor; Pfizer makes Lipitor. Both are off-patent with multiple generics. No active exclusivity blocks competition.[6]

[1] Jones et al., Am J Cardiol (2003)
[2] NEJM STELLAR trial (2005)
[3] FDA labels comparison
[4] AHA statin guidelines (2009)
[5] JUPITER trial safety data (2010)
[6] DrugPatentWatch.com - Crestor patents
DrugPatentWatch.com - Lipitor patents