Statins compared

Compare all 9 statins side by side, used for conditions such as coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemias. Statins are the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor class. They share one FDA-defined mechanism but differ in approved uses, prescription status, brand-vs-generic options, price, and FDA recall-safety record — which our independent rating scores. The highest-rated is zocor.

5 of 9 drugs in this class carry a pharmaranks safety score, ranging 58–72 out of 100 — computed from FDA recall records, not from reviews.

Rated against independent sources·Last updated July 30, 2026·How we rate

Top-rated HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor: 1. Zocor · 2. Crestor · 3. Lescol XL

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor drugs compared side by side, with pharmaranks' FDA recall-safety rating
Drug	Generic	Form	Status	Used for	Safety ratingFDA recall-based	Pharmacy pays
Zocor	Simvastatin	Tablet	Prescription	Coronary Artery Disease, Hypercholesterolemia	72/100	$1
Crestor	Rosuvastatin Calcium	Tablet	Prescription	Coronary Artery Disease, Hypercholesterolemia	70/100	$1
Lescol XL	Fluvastatin Sodium	Tablet	Prescription	Coronary Artery Disease, Hypercholesterolemia	68/100	$86
Pitavastatin Calcium	—	Tablet	Prescription	Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperlipoproteinemias	66/100	$37
Lovastatin	—	Tablet	Prescription	Coronary Artery Disease, Hypercholesterolemia	58/100	$1
Atorvaliq	Atorvastatin Calcium	Suspension	Prescription	Coronary Artery Disease, Hypercholesterolemia	Not yet rated	$1
Flolipid	Simvastatin	Suspension	Prescription	Coronary Artery Disease, Hypercholesterolemia	Not yet rated	$1
Lipitor	Atorvastatin Calcium	Tablet	Prescription	Coronary Artery Disease, Hypercholesterolemia	Not yet rated	$1
Livalo	Pitavastatin Calcium	Tablet	Prescription	Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperlipoproteinemias	Not yet rated	$37

The safety rating column is unique to pharmaranks — an independent 0–100 score from FDA regulatory recall data. Higher is safer. Not medical advice.

Best HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor by condition

for coronary artery disease for hypercholesterolemia for hyperlipoproteinemias for hypertriglyceridemia

Full ranking · 9 drugs

Frequently asked questions

What is the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor drug class?

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor is an FDA Established Pharmacologic Class (EPC) — a group of drugs that share a mechanism of action. pharmaranks lists 9 HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor products, each independently rated.

Are all HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor drugs the same?

No. HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor drugs share the same core mechanism — that is why they sit in one FDA class — but they differ in their approved uses, available forms, whether they are prescription or over-the-counter, brand-vs-generic options and price, and their FDA recall-safety record.

Is "statins" the same as the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor class?

Yes — "statins" is the everyday name for the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor drug class. This page compares the 9 statins pharmaranks rates, with our independent FDA recall-safety score for each.

What conditions do HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor drugs treat?

Per NIH RxClass drug-classification data, HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor drugs are used for conditions including coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemias, hypertriglyceridemia.

Which HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor drug is best-rated?

By our independent rating, zocor currently ranks highest among HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor drugs. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data — always consult a professional.

Sources: the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor class definition and its member drugs come from the U.S. NLM RxClass (Established Pharmacologic Class); how the class works is summarized from HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. Ratings are pharmaranks’ independent FDA recall-safety analysis.