Atorvastatin v Simvastatin

[Phil65]

I'm being changed from 40mg of Simvastatin to 20mg of Atorvastatin, I know that Atorvastatin is a lot more expensive but is there much difference? My cholesterol level wasn't particularly high but my consultant has changed my statin anyway........Any views?

 

[Caroline]

Were you getting any side effects? Or perhaps the new one is more effective? Ask your consultant who to explain. He probably has a ery good reason for it.

 

[mcdonagh47]

I'm being changed from 40mg of Simvastatin to 20mg of Atorvastatin, I know that Atorvastatin is a lot more expensive but is there much difference? My cholesterol level wasn't particularly high but my consultant has changed my statin anyway........Any views?

its happening generally across the country. Recent research showed that 40 mg of Simvaststin was just as effective as 20 mg of Atorvastatin. So because the Atorvastatin is more expensive, the cheaper alernative is being preferred. Of course if you need 40 of sim to achieve the same result as 20 Ator, then Atorvastsin must be twice as effective ?

 

[Phil65]

its happening generally across the country. Recent research showed that 40 mg of Simvaststin was just as effective as 20 mg of Atorvastatin. So because the Atorvastatin is more expensive, the cheaper alernative is being preferred. Of course if you need 40 of sim to achieve the same result as 20 Ator, then Atorvastsin must be twice as effective ?

...........that is why I'm surprised to being changed from simvastatin to atorvastatin! 😉

 

[Steff]

I was im same boat i was started on sim and now im on ator, it is so much better and ive had none of the nasty side effects with it either.

 

[lucy123]

I was moved to Atorvastatin from simvastatin as the simvastatin gave me terrible leg pains - no pains at all with atorvastatin. Best to ask why when you next see them.🙂

 

[mcdonagh47]

...........that is why I'm surprised to being changed from simvastatin to atorvastatin! 😉

perhaps the atorvastatin reps have given your Doc a free pen or paid for him to go to "conferences" in California ?😉

 

[AlisonM]

I had terrible side effects on Simvastatin and refused to take it any more, my cholesterol is pretty good anyway at 4.7 last time round. I've been prescribed Atorvastatin but only take it sporadically as I'm not convinced I actually need it. Several folk I know have been shifted recently to Atorvastatin too, not all of them had problems with Simvastatin either.

 

[hotchop]

I was switched from sim to arto and my cholestorol has come down from 7.9 to 4.9 last week.

Don't know how though!

 

[Northerner]

I was switched from sim to arto and my cholestorol has come down from 7.9 to 4.9 last week.

Don't know how though!

That's quite a difference! Are you on a reduced dose of the atorvastatin compared to the sim?

 

[hotchop]

No, same 40mg dose. Testing took place 3 months apart however when I saw the DSN the other week, she did say that high bg went hand in hand with high cholestorol and my figures are now so much better now im on the Novorapid.

I asked the question if I could ever come off arto and yes was the answer