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Can someone rate the statins(like lipitor, Crestor, etc.) and name ones that have become generic?
Question : Can someone rate the statins(like lipitor, Crestor, etc.) and name ones that have become generic?
(A pharmacist said that Lipitor is the most widely used?) Any knowledge about the setbacks with Vytorin? What about Zetia? (tho it isn’t a statin)? When statins inhibit liver synthesis of cholesterol does that lower natural hormonal levels?
statins
Best answer:
Answer by Crouching Doggie
Lipitor quotes the highest % reduction in serum LDLs. I’m pretty sure that Zocor is available as a generic. Zetia has been getting a lot of bad publicity as the medical literature to substantiate it’s efficacy in improving morbidity/mortality rates is simply not there.
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#2 written by mnvikes 1 year ago
at comparable doses, all have similar effects so potency isnt a big deciding factor. pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), and lovastatin (Mevacor?) are the only ones i can think of that are generic currently. as far as “rating them”, i dont think there are any huge standout advantages to any one of them. there are some subtle differences that you can talk to your doctor about and figure out which is best for you, but most docs just pick one or two and give it to everyone which is fine. simvastatin and lipitor seem to be the most popular by far IMO. Vytorin is a combo pill of simvastatin and Zetia, its good for people with very high cholesterol or bad diets. the statins are pretty well tolerated side effect wise for the most part, to my knowledge they dont block any major hormones to a signficant degree. the statins do have one serious side effect though that hits one in every couple hundred users, called rhabdomyolysis; basically it causes some breakdown of muscle, and the excess protein in your blood jams up your kidneys which is why in the commericals they tell you to report unexplained weakness and muscle aches immediately (it usually isnt a huge problem if the person reports it right away and it is taken care of, but it can cause very serious kidney damage if it is ignored). Zetia is ok, should be more of a second choice though IMO because its more expensive and isnt as powerful as the statins, plus it doesnt have the antiinflammatory effects statins do…. it blocks absorption of cholesterol from your diet. ask your doctor if you have more questions.
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Crestor seems to work the best of the bunch.
The ones that are generic are Zocor, Pravachol, and Mevacor. Of course Mevacor isn’t that good.
The ‘setbacks’ with Vytorin are probably the recent findings with Zetia. It does lower your cholesterol but doesn’t reduce plaque formation in the arteries. That is the whole reason we are trying to lower cholesterol. So until further notice…..don’t bother taking Zetia. Statins have been proven to lower cholesterol AND reduce plaque formation.
Even when your levels are normal, there is ample cholesterol available to make any and all hormones etc. that utilize cholesterol in their synthesis.