Finding out that your cholesterol level is high, putting you at risk for a heart attack, can be quite difficult to handle. The buildup of cholesterol as plaque in the blood vessels blocks the flow of blood around the body and to your heart, causing the heart muscle to be damaged. This is known medically as a myocardial infarction, and commonly as a heart attack. In the middle of this new information, your doctor may tell you that you need to be put on medication to control and/or lower your cholesterol levels. While this can be a hard pill to swallow, it is still important to be informed about your medication choices. Lipitor and Zocor are two of the newest and most prescribed cholesterol medications. Both are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors designed to slow down your body’s production of cholesterol in order to lower your risk of having a heart attack. Since the medications work in the same way, your doctor may ask you to choose between them. Hopefully this article will help you decide if either of these medications is right for you.
Lipitor is the brand name for the drug Atorvastatin, and is taken one time a day in pill form, with or without food. Your doctor will generally start you on a low dose that he or she will raise every few weeks until your cholesterol is under control.
Zocor and Vytorin are the brand names for Simvastatin, and are taken in pill form between one and three times a day, ideally at approximately the same time each day. Like Lipitor, your doctor may start you on a low dose and gradually increase the medication until your cholesterol is under control, but Zocor levels are only increased every 4 weeks or more.
Both Lipitor and Zocor may also have side effects when combined with certain types of medications, so you will have to talk to your doctor about all medications you take before deciding to take either medication. Since Lipitor and Zocor can affect the liver, if you consume large amounts of alcoholic beverages or have previous liver disease, it is critical that you be honest with your doctor about your medical history and drinking habits. This medicine is also considered to be teratogenic, or toxic to a fetus or baby, so women who have a possibility of becoming pregnant or who are breast feeding definitely should not take Lipitor or Zocor.
Lipitor and Zocor are both highly effective medications, and for most patients are safe, but there are some side effects to keep in mind when deciding whether to take a cholesterol-lowering medication. Overall, Zocor has far less common side effects than Lipitor, though the potential for serious side effects are roughly the same.
For Zocor, the only common side effect is constipation, which can be regulated using a mild laxative from your doctor. For Lipitor, the common side effects include diarrhea, headaches, insomnia, dizziness, joint pain, and an increased risk for upper respiratory infections.
Serious side effects can also occur with either medication, and though they are rare they may be life-threatening. These can include flu-like symptoms, such as muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, lethargy, fever, chest pain, and nausea, swelling of the hands, feet and lower legs, and the face, throat and mouth. The medication can also cause jaundice, a yellowing of the eyes and skin, itching, hives, rashes, excessive bleeding or bruising, and painful or frequent urination. If you experience any of these serious side effects while on Lipitor, particularly chest pain, swelling, sudden fever, or extreme or sudden pain not linked to an injury, please go straight to the emergency room of the closest hospital.
So, as we can see, both medications act in the same manner to slow down the production of cholesterol, can be adjusted to the ideal dose to maintain your health, and come with a very low risk of the same serious side effects. However, when looking at the commonly occurring side effects, Lipitor contains a long list, while Zocor only has one easily treatable effect. Remember, with either medication you choose, you will need standard physicals and monitoring from your general care practitioner and (possibly) a cardiologist and maintain a healthy diet and exercise schedule.
Atorvastatin, Medline Plus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a600045.html
Simvastatin, Medline Plus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a692030.html#brand-names
