CapseraHMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
Compare the named medicines in this source-linked class directory.
Membership describes a named action or a component of a combination. A medicine may appear in several families. Medicines in one family are not automatically interchangeable; this is a study directory, not a prescribing guide.
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Generic names and pronunciation
Shared name ending: -statin · Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Pravastatin, Lovastatin
| Atorvastatin · a-TOR-va-sta-tin |
| Rosuvastatin · roe-SOO-va-sta-tin |
| Simvastatin · SIM-va-sta-tin |
| Pravastatin · PRA-va-sta-tin |
| Lovastatin · LOE-va-sta-tin |
Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name. A name ending is a memory cue, not a classification rule.
Body system and related classes
Body system: Cardiovascular
How each medicine works
| Atorvastatin — Selectively and competitively inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. In animal models, increased hepatic LDL receptors also contribute to LDL uptake and breakdown. |
| Rosuvastatin — Inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a precursor of cholesterol. |
| Simvastatin — Prodrug hydrolyzed to simvastatin acid, which inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis. |
| Pravastatin — Reversibly inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a cholesterol precursor. |
| Lovastatin — Lactone prodrug hydrolyzed to its beta-hydroxyacid, which inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an early step in cholesterol synthesis. |
Each summary is the mechanism line from the medicine’s study card.
What each medicine is used for
| Atorvastatin — As an adjunct to diet to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with primary hyperlipidemia or in adults and children aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; Reduction of specified cardiovascular events in adults with established coronary heart disease or the multiple coronary risk factors described in the label; Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults and children aged 10 years and older, with other LDL-lowering treatment or alone when that treatment is unavailable |
| Rosuvastatin — As an adjunct to diet to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with primary hyperlipidemia and to slow atherosclerosis progression in adults; Reduction of major cardiovascular events in adults without established coronary disease who meet the label's age, hsCRP of at least 2 mg/L and additional-risk-factor criteria; Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults and children aged 8 years and older, as an adjunct to diet; Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults and children aged 7 years and older, with other LDL-lowering treatment or alone when unavailable |
| Simvastatin — Reduction of coronary death, nonfatal MI, stroke or revascularization need in high-risk adults with the established vascular disease or diabetes described in the label; As an adjunct to diet to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with primary hyperlipidemia or in adults and children aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; As an adjunct to other LDL-lowering treatment in adults with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; As an adjunct to diet for hypertriglyceridemia in adults |
| Pravastatin — Adjunct to diet for primary hyperlipidemia in adults, or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in children aged 8 years and older; Reduction of myocardial infarction, revascularization and cardiovascular death in adults with elevated LDL-C without clinically evident coronary heart disease; Reduction of specified coronary/cerebrovascular events and slowing coronary atherosclerosis in adults with clinically evident coronary heart disease; Adjunct to diet for hypertriglyceridemia or primary dysbetalipoproteinemia in adults |
| Lovastatin — Adjunct to diet for primary hypercholesterolemia when diet and other nonpharmacologic measures are inadequate; Reduce MI, unstable angina and coronary revascularization risk in people without symptomatic cardiovascular disease who have average-to-moderately elevated total/LDL cholesterol and below-average HDL; Slow coronary atherosclerosis progression in coronary heart disease as part of a cholesterol-lowering strategy |
Each list is the uses line from the medicine’s study card.
Telling these medicines apart
Medicines in this class: 5
Listed on more than one card in this class
Used for
As an adjunct to diet to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with primary hyperlipidemia or in adults and children aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia · 2/5: Atorvastatin, Simvastatin
Common side effects
Headache · 4/5: Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Pravastatin, Lovastatin
Constipation · 3/5: Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Lovastatin
Diarrhea · 2/5: Atorvastatin, Pravastatin
Nausea · 2/5: Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin
Myalgia · 2/5: Rosuvastatin, Lovastatin
Upper respiratory infection · 2/5: Simvastatin, Pravastatin
Abdominal pain · 2/5: Simvastatin, Lovastatin
Warnings
Myopathy / rhabdomyolysis · 4/5: Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Pravastatin
Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy · 4/5: Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Pravastatin
Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis · 3/5: Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin
An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.