Atorvastatin — HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.
Generic name
Atorvastatin
Class
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)
Mechanism
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.
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; 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
Common side effects
Nasopharyngitis; Arthralgia; Diarrhea; Pain in extremity; Urinary tract infection
Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.
Label date: 20260731 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.
Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.
Mechanism: Prodrug hydrolyzed to simvastatin acid, which inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis.
On both cards: 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 · Warnings — Myopathy / rhabdomyolysis; Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy; Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis
Only on the Simvastatin card: Used for — 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 other LDL-lowering treatment in adults with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; As an adjunct to diet for hypertriglyceridemia in adults · Common side effects — Upper respiratory infection; Headache; Abdominal pain; Constipation; Nausea · Interactions — Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors; Cyclosporine, danazol, gemfibrozil; Coumarin anticoagulants
Mechanism: Inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a precursor of cholesterol.
On both cards: Warnings — Myopathy / rhabdomyolysis; Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy; Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis
Only on the Rosuvastatin card: Used for — 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 · Common side effects — Headache; Nausea; Myalgia; Asthenia; Constipation · Interactions — Cyclosporine, gemfibrozil; Aluminum/magnesium hydroxide antacids; Warfarin
Mechanism: Reversibly inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a cholesterol precursor.
On both cards: Common side effects — Diarrhea · Warnings — Myopathy / rhabdomyolysis; Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy
Only on the Pravastatin card: Used for — 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 · Common side effects — Musculoskeletal pain; Nausea / vomiting; Upper respiratory infection; Headache · Warnings — Hepatic dysfunction · Interactions — Gemfibrozil; Cyclosporine; Clarithromycin / erythromycin
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.
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