Atorvastatin vs Rosuvastatin: what is the difference?
Both are statins, but rosuvastatin is more potent per unit weight and is largely not cleared by CYP3A4, so it has fewer interactions than atorvastatin.
Sources and notes
- The sentence under the titlefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedMoleculeFinder rule (RDKit MCS)Each molecule's own drawing, as its page shows it. The common core, 10 of 41 atoms, is too small to align on.
Side by side
| Atorvastatin | Rosuvastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 558.6 g/molC33H35FN2O5 | 481.5 g/molC22H28FN3O6S |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 4 | 3 |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Cholesterol medicines | Cholesterol medicines |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Alcohols, Carboxylic Acids, Aromatics, Amides, Halogenated | Alcohols, Carboxylic Acids, Aromatics, Halogenated |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA via PubChem | Warning | Danger |
| The supplier-filed hazard label's signal word, not a statement about ordinary use. | ||
Sources and notes
- Molecular weightcomputedPubChemComputed from the structure; the formula is under each weight.
- Hydrogen-bond donorscomputedPubChemThe hydrogens on nitrogen or oxygen that each molecule can lend to a hydrogen bond, counted from its structure.
- Familyfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Everyday groupfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Chemical groupscomputedFound by rule (RDKit)Each group is found in the structure by a chemical pattern.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 60823 (Atorvastatin) and 446157 (Rosuvastatin).
In more detail
Both block HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the body's own cholesterol assembly line. The larger practical difference is how each is cleared: atorvastatin is broken down by the liver enzyme CYP3A4, which is the enzyme grapefruit juice and many other medicines interfere with, and rosuvastatin is largely not, so it has fewer interactions. Rosuvastatin is also more water-loving, which keeps more of it in the liver where it is meant to act. Atorvastatin became the best-selling medicine of all time as Lipitor; rosuvastatin followed as Crestor. Atorvastatin is the heavier at 558.6 against 481.5, and rosuvastatin carries a sulfonamide group that atorvastatin does not.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin?
- Both are statins, but rosuvastatin is more potent per unit weight and is largely not cleared by CYP3A4, so it has fewer interactions than atorvastatin.
- Is Atorvastatin bigger than Rosuvastatin?
- Atorvastatin is the heavier molecule, 558.6 g/mol against 481.5 g/mol for Rosuvastatin. Atorvastatin is C33H35FN2O5 and Rosuvastatin is C22H28FN3O6S.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.