CRESTOR vs LIPITOR
Independent side-by-side comparison.
Two statins with near-identical FDA labels: same contraindications, same muscle and liver warnings, neither carries a boxed warning. They are more alike than the internet pretends.
The key difference
One difference that matters is how the body clears them. Lipitor's label makes atorvastatin a CYP3A4 substrate — its levels rise with CYP3A4 inhibitors, and the label names grapefruit juice, certain azole antifungals and macrolide antibiotics. Crestor's label makes rosuvastatin a CYP2C9 and transporter substrate: a different interaction list. If you take other medicines, that is often what decides it.
The shared danger is named on both labels: myopathy and rhabdomyolysis — muscle breakdown that has caused acute kidney injury and rare deaths. Both tell prescribers to stop the drug if myopathy is suspected, and tell patients to promptly report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially with malaise or fever. Both also warn of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy and of hepatic dysfunction.
On pregnancy both say the same thing, and it is not a patient's call alone: discontinue when pregnancy is recognized, or alternatively consider the ongoing therapeutic needs of the individual patient. That second half is a prescriber's judgement.
What favours Crestor (rosuvastatin)
Crestor's label approves it for children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia from age 8 and homozygous FH from age 7 — younger than Lipitor's labelled age. Its interactions run through CYP2C9 and transporters rather than CYP3A4, which can suit someone already on a CYP3A4 inhibitor. Its label also flags that Asian patients may be at higher risk of myopathy.
What favours Lipitor (atorvastatin)
Lipitor's labelled indications include reducing the risk of MI and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes and multiple coronary risk factors, and reducing events including hospitalization for congestive heart failure and angina in adults with clinically evident coronary heart disease — outcome claims written differently from Crestor's.
Bottom line
For most people either one is a reasonable statin, and the real question is not which brand but which fits your other medicines, your kidneys and liver, and how far your LDL needs to come down. That is a prescriber's call, not a search result's.
Whichever you take, muscle pain, tenderness or weakness — especially with fever or feeling generally unwell — is the symptom you call about the same day. Do not start, stop, switch or change how you take a statin because of a comparison page.
We do not sell these drugs and we do not sell coupons. We rate them on their FDA recall record, which is why we can tell you they look largely interchangeable on paper and send you to your doctor instead of to a checkout.
This is not a summary of either drug’s FDA label, and it is not complete. Both labels carry warnings, contraindications and interactions that are not on this page. Read the label for the drug you are actually taking — we link both above — and take the decision to your prescriber.
Possible drug interaction. CRESTOR and LIPITOR are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Crestor or Lipitor?
Lipitor costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $0.92 vs $1.37 for a 30-count supply, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.
What is the difference between Crestor and Lipitor?
Crestor contains Rosuvastatin Calcium, while Lipitor contains Atorvastatin Calcium — they have different active ingredients.
Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.