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Both have minimal side effects including upset stomach, gas, heartburn, change of taste, diarrhea, constipation, skin rash, headache, dizziness or blurred vision that may occur the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication.
Both have minimal side effects including upset stomach, gas, heartburn, change of taste, diarrhea, constipation, skin rash, headache, dizziness or blurred vision that may occur the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication
Pricing:
Expensive
Offered at a lower price
Manufacturer:
Pfizer
Merck
Functions:
Reduces cholesterol and high blood pressure associated with heart disease.
Reduces cholesterol and high blood pressure associated with heart disease and heart attacks
Dosage:
The recommended starting dose of Lipitor is 10 or 20 mg once daily
The recommended usual starting dose is 10 mg once a day in the evening
Usage:
May be used in combination with a bile acid binding resin for additive effect
Zocor is effective alone or when used concomitantly with bile-acid sequestrants
Prescription:
A prescription is required for Lipitor
A prescription is required for Zocor
Generic Name:
Atorvastatin calcium
Simvastatin
Empirical Formula:
C33H34 FN2O5)2Ca•3H2O
C25H38O5
Molecular Weight:
1209.42
418.57
Physical Properties:
A white to off-white crystalline powder that is insoluble in aqueous solutions of pH 4 and below. Atorvastatin calcium is very slightly soluble in distilled water
A white to off-white, nonhygroscopic, crystalline powder that is practically insoluble in water, and freely soluble in chloroform, methanol and ethanol
Lipitor and Zocor are both pharmaceutical drugs for heart disease & cholesterol reduction.
Lipitor is developed by the Pfizer Company and is known as the best selling prescription medicine in the world, with over $12 billion USD in annual sales. Lipitor is used to treat high blood pressure and heart diseases that can lead to heart attack. Lipitor is also known as Torvast, Torvacard, Tulip, Totalip, Atorpic, Sortis, Xarator, and Liprimar in different countries and regions. Lipitor is known as a very effective medicine when combined with changes in diet, exercise, and smoking.
Zocor is a prescription medicine for the reduction of cholesterol that is often marketed as a generic alternative to Lipitor. Zocor was developed from a different method of synthesis by the Merck Pharmaceutical Company. Zocor is also used to treat high blood pressure and heart diseases that can lead to heart attack. Zocor is also known as Zocord, Zimstat, Sivastin, Simvaxon Simvastatin-Teva, Simvacor, Simovil Sinvacor, Simvahexal, Liponorm, Lipovas, Lodales, Lipex, and Denan in other countries and regions.
[edit] Chemical differences between zocor and lipitor
Generically, Lipitor is called Atorvastatin calcium and its empirical formula is C33H34 FN2O5)2Ca•3H2O
with a molecular weight of 1209.42. Zocor, on the other hand is called Simvastatin with a empirical formula of C25H38O5 and a molecular weight of 418.57.
Lipitor is white to off-white with crystalline powder that is insoluble in aqueous solutions of pH 4 and below. Zocor is white to off-white, nonhygroscopic, crystalline powder that is practically insoluble in water.
Lipitor and Zocor both are taken to reduce high blood pressure caused by cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke for those with clogged arteries.
Lipitor works to break down colesterol deposits that collect within the blood vessels of the body to reduce high blood pressure. If colesterol deposits develop in the blood vessels of the heart, they can cause a heart attack. Liptor is an alternative to angioplasty or blood thinning methods of blood pressure reduction. Lipitor uses a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor to reduce Low Density Cholesterol. Liptor works by enzyme blocking. The drug blocks an enzyme in the liver that leads to the reduction of Low Density Cholesterol that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Zocor functions in a similar manner to dissolve cholesterol deposits within blood vessels that cause high blood pressure and heart attack. The patent on Zocor expired recently allowing for reduced cost generic versions of the drug. Some studies suggest Zocor may be less effective than Liptor. Zocor uses a lipid reducing agent to reduce Low Density Cholesterol.
Lipitor has minimal side effects including upset stomach, gas, heartburn, change of taste, diarrhea, constipation, skin rash, headache, dizziness or blurred vision that may occur the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication. Zocor also has similar side effects,if any.
The recommended starting dose for Lipitor is 10 or 20 mg once daily depending on the condition of the patient. The recommended starting dose for Zocor is 10 mg once a day in the evening.
Lipitor may be used in combination with a bile acid binding resin for additive effect. Zocor is effective alone or when used concomitantly with bile-acid sequestrants.
Both Lipitor and Zocor should be combined with health, diet, & exercise. This can assist in a reduction of blood pressure and reduced risk of heart attack significantly.
