Lovastatin Vs. Rosuvastatin: Drug Comparison

Lovastatin is the active ingredient in brand-name medications including Altoprev^®. The information below is about brand name Altoprev. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Altoprev (lovastatin extended-release) is a statin medication used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a key role in cholesterol production in the liver. It is FDA-indicated for the treatment of high cholesterol and to prevent cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes in patients at risk. Altoprev comes in extended-release tablet form, taken once daily, typically in the evening. Common side effects include headache, muscle pain, and nausea, while more serious warnings include a potential for liver damage and muscle breakdown. It also has drug interactions with other lipid-lowering agents and certain antifungal medications and carries a boxed warning for avoiding use during pregnancy due to risk of fetal harm. Altoprev should be used with caution in patients with severe kidney disease.

Rosuvastatin is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Crestor^®. The information below is about brand name Crestor. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Crestor (rosuvastatin) is a statin medication used to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which reduces the production of cholesterol in the liver. Its FDA-approved indications include the treatment of high cholesterol, prevention of cardiovascular disease, and reduction of stroke or heart attack risk in individuals with elevated cholesterol. Off label, Crestor may be used for conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia or for cardiovascular protection in certain high-risk groups. It is available in tablet form, taken orally. Common side effects include muscle pain, headache, and nausea, while serious warnings include the risk of muscle breakdown and liver damage.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)

HMG Co‑A reductase inhibitor (statin)

Altoprev (lovastatin) is indicated:

• To reduce the risk of myocardinal infarction (MI), unstable angina, and coronary revascularization procedures in adults at high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD).

• As an adjunct to diet to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and slow the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in adults with CHD.

• As an adjunct to diet to reduce LDL-C in adults with primary hyperlipidemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).

Crestor (rosuvastatin) is indicated:

• To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or an arterial revascularization procedure) in adults without established coronary heart disease who are at increased risk of CV disease based on age, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥2 mg/L, and at least one additional CV risk factor

• As an adjunct to diet to:

  • Reduce LDL-C in adults with primary hyperlipidemia

  • Reduce LDL-C and slow the progression of atherosclerosis in adults

  • Reduce LDL-C in adults and pediatric patients aged 8 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).

• As an adjunct to other LDL-C-lowering therapies, or alone if such treatments are unavailable, to reduce LDL-C in adults and pediatric patients aged 7 years and older with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH)

• As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adults with:

  • Primary dysbetalipoproteinemia

  • Hypertriglyceridemia

• Typically taken orally once daily

• Comes in 20 mg, 40 mg, and 60 mg extended-release tablets

• Typically taken orally once daily

• Comes in 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablets

The most commonly reported adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5%) in patients treated with Altoprev in placebo-controlled trials were:

• Infection

• Headache

• Accidental injury

Most frequent adverse reactions (rate ≥2%) are:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Muscle aches

• Weakness

• Constipation

• Concomitant administration of strong CYP3A inhibitors

• Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis

• Hypersensitivity to lovastatin or any excipients in Altoprev

• Drug interactions: See full prescribing information for details regarding concomitant use of Altoprev with other drugs that increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis

• Hypersensitivity to rosuvastatin or any excipients in Crestor

• Drug interactions: aluminum and magnesium hydroxide combination antacids, warfarin

• Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy(IMNM)

• Liver dysfunction

• Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm

• Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding not recommended during treatment with Altoprev

• Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM)

• Liver dysfunction

• Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm

• Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding not recommended during treatment with Crestor

*This information is from the label for brand name Altoprev^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Lovastatin, the active ingredient in Altoprev, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient lovastatin.

*This information is from the label for brand name Crestor^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Rosuvastatin, the active ingredient in Crestor, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient rosuvastatin.