2006-12-14 11:42:42 · 3 answers · asked by neautronbill 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
Not the same drug but do basically the same thing
Lovastatin: is used together with lifestyle changes (diet, weight-loss, exercise) to reduce the amount of cholesterol (a fat-like substance) and other fatty substances in the blood. Lovastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body.
Lipitor:is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. Lipitor blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.
• Lipitor is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. Lipitor is also used to increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood. These actions are important in reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
2006-12-14 11:50:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lovastatin (Mevacor) was the first drug in the class of 'statins'. Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is among the more common statins prescribed. Lovastatin is an inexpensive generic on WalMart's $4 drug plan while atorvastatin is very expensive. It is possible to convert a dose of atorvastatin to an equal dose of lovastatin in order to save more than $100 per month.
2006-12-15 07:45:48 · answer #2 · answered by john e russo md facm faafp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no.
same class of drugs (statins), but lipitor (atorvastatin) is 4 times stronger in reducing cholesterol levels, and has better action on triglycerides too.
lovastatin was one of the first statins, since then,Merck, the manufacturer, released something better (Simvastatin- Zocor)
2006-12-14 23:57:27 · answer #3 · answered by oanaveres 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋