SHEET /vs/simvastatin-vs-atorvastatin · COMPARISON
Simvastatin vs Atorvastatin: what is the difference?
How they differ
from source
Both are statins that block HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme at the top of the body's cholesterol assembly line, but they come from different starting points. Simvastatin is made from lovastatin, a compound produced by a fungus, and it is swallowed as an inactive lactone that the liver opens up. Atorvastatin is fully synthetic, carries a fluorine atom and is active as taken: C33H35FN2O5 at 558.6 against simvastatin's C25H38O5 at 418.6. Atorvastatin, sold as Lipitor, became the best-selling medicine of all time, and simvastatin, sold as Zocor, was the statin of the landmark trials of the 1990s.
Side by side
| Simvastatin | Atorvastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | C25H38O5 | C33H35FN2O5 |
| Molecular weight | 418.6 g/mol | 558.6 g/mol |
| Family | Cholesterol medicines | Cholesterol medicines |
| Everyday group | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Functional groups | Alcohols, Esters | Alcohols, Carboxylic Acids, Aromatics, Amides, Halogenated |
| GHS signal wordThe supplier-filed hazard label, not a statement about ordinary use. | Danger | Warning |
| CAS number | 79902-63-9 | 134523-00-5 |
| PubChem CID | 54454 | 60823 |
Common questions
- What is the difference between Simvastatin and Atorvastatin?
- Both are statins that block HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme at the top of the body's cholesterol assembly line, but they come from different starting points. Simvastatin is made from lovastatin, a compound produced by a fungus, and it is swallowed as an inactive lactone that the liver opens up. Atorvastatin is fully synthetic, carries a fluorine atom and is active as taken: C33H35FN2O5 at 558.6 against simvastatin's C25H38O5 at 418.6.
- Is Simvastatin bigger than Atorvastatin?
- Atorvastatin is the heavier molecule, 558.6 g/mol against 418.6 g/mol for Simvastatin. Simvastatin is C25H38O5 and Atorvastatin is C33H35FN2O5.
Read the full records: Simvastatin and Atorvastatin.