Lopid vs. Lipitor

• Are Lipitor and Lopid the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Lopid?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Lipitor?
• What Is Lopid?
• What Is Lipitor?
• What Drugs Interact with Lopid?
• What Drugs Interact with Lipitor?
• How Should Lopid Be Taken?
• How Should Lipitor Be Taken?

Lopid (gemfibrozil) and Lipitor (atorvastatin) are used to lower cholesterol levels.

Lopid is also used to treat very high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with pancreatitis.

Lipitor is also used to elevate HDL ("good") cholesterol.

Lopid and Lipitor belong to different drug classes, Lopid is a lipid-regulating agent and Lipitor is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (a "statin" drug).

Side effects of Lopid and Lipitor that are similar include nausea, diarrhea, headache, and muscle pain.

Side effects of Lopid that are different from Lipitor include stomach upset, stomach/abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, joint pain, loss of interest in sex, impotence, difficulty having an orgasm, numbness or tingly feeling, unusual taste, or cold symptoms (such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat).

Side effects of Lipitor that are different from Lopid include constipation, fatigue, gas, and heartburn.

Both Lopid and Lipitor may interact with other cholesterol-lowering drugs and alcohol.

Lopid may also interact with blood thinners, insulin or oral diabetes medications, and colchicine.

Lipitor may also interact with antibiotics, antifungals, birth control pills, heart medications, or medicines to treat HIV/AIDS.

Common side effects of Lopid include:

• stomach upset,
• stomach/abdominal pain,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• joint or muscle pain,
• loss of interest in sex,
• impotence,
• difficulty having an orgasm,
• numbness or tingly feeling,
• unusual taste, or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

Lopid may infrequently cause gallstones and liver problems.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following unlikely, but serious side effects of Lopid including:

• severe stomach/abdominal pain,
• persistent nausea or vomiting,
• yellowing eyes or skin, and
• dark urine.

Common side effects of Lipitor include:

• trouble sleeping (insomnia),
• dry mouth,
• cough,
• decreased appetite,
• upset stomach,
• nausea or vomiting,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• problems urinating,
• irritability,
• constipation,
• skin rash,
• itching,
• increased menstrual cramps, and
• sexual side effects including
  • impotence,
  • loss of interest in sex, or
  • trouble having an orgasm.

Lopid (gemfibrozil) is a lipid regulating agent used to treat very high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with pancreatitis, and is also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in people with high cholesterol and triglycerides who have not been helped by other treatments. Lopid is available in generic form.

Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a statin used for the treatment of elevated total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and to elevate HDL cholesterol.

Lopid may interact with blood thinners, insulin or oral diabetes medication, or other cholesterol-lowering drugs. Tell your doctor all medications you use. Lopid is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk.

Erythromycin (E-Mycin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), cyclosporine (Sandimmune), indinavir (Crixivan) and ritonavir (Norvir) decrease elimination of Lipitor. Lipitor increases the effect of warfarin (Coumadin) and cholestyramine (Questran) decreases the absorption of Lipitor.

The recommended dose of Lopid for adults is 1200 mg administered in two divided doses 30 minutes before the morning and evening meals.

The recommended dose of Lipitor is 10-80 mg daily.