Does lipitor have a generic drug?

 Category: Lipitor

Questions and Answers

WHEN WILL A GENERIC DRUG BE AVAILABLE FOR LIPITOR?

not until 2011 in the USA but it can be purchased today in places like Mexico and parts of Europe as well as india and russia. Take a look at low-cost-rx.com which is a European based generics house for more information

Max

Will Lipitor ever be available in a generic form? I do know that there is a period of time that has to pass.?

I am curious as to know when will Lipitor be available in the generic form? I know that a number of years must pass after the patent. Hasn't the appropriate number of years passed already? Or is it just greed on the part of the big Drug Companies trying to squeeze the consumer even further, especially the way the economy is now. It is ashame that the big drug companies are so greedy. Thank you

I believe I heard that Lipitor will go off patent in a year or two in the U.S.. Crestor has two or three years to go

going from Lipitor to generic Zocor?

My insurance will no longer pay for Lipitor, so I had to go on Zocor(generic). I was on 5mg of Lipitor and am now on 10mg of Zocor.
They are 2 different drugs, so is that the equivalent? Or is there really no way to compare the two.

I amusing generic Lipitor, I wouldn't want to switch these meds, have you talked to your doc about it?

The site where I ordered my has both as much as I can see

http://www.1rx.biz/generic_lipitor.html
http://www.1rx.biz/generic_zocor.html

Is there much difference between Vytorin and Lipitor other than price?

My Cholesteral is high and my DR prescribed Vytorin. I have no prescription insurance and was shocked to find the cheapest price on Vytorin was 124.00 per month. Lipitor (which is another choleteral lowering drug) comes in generic and is much cheaper. Before I consult my DR does anyone know if there is a real big difference in Vytorin and Lipitor other than the outstanding cost difference? Thanks.

Both Vytorin and Lipitor work well. They are in the same class of drugs.

As for Lipitor being a generic, I think you are mistaken. There are other drugs in that class that ARE generic, will work for MOST people and are MUCH cheaper.

1) Tell your MD that you have no Rx coverage (so he knows that cost is definately a factor) most MD's don't have a clue as to what a med costs, all they have time to know is which drug rep bought their lunch this week.

2) Ask him if you can use Simvastatin (brand is Zocor). It is availiable in generic, was one of the first HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (that class of cholesterol drugs) approved and has been widely studied.

3) If he says no, ask him for a specific reason why you need Vytorin (or any other brand name drug). Unless your numbers are extremely high (in which case Simvastatin might not bring them down far enough), he really has no reason to prescribe the brand name drug. Vytorin is a little more potent, but that is really the only different. It works slightly better for people with extremely high numbers. If you can't afford to take the med, then the best drug on the planet is worhtless to you.

Its like why pay for premium gas at the pump when the regular unleaded will get you where you need to go ?

4) Know that these drugs do carry some risk. You doctor should do a blood test not only to check your cholesterol level, but your liver function before you start on the meds. Then his should check your cholesterol and liver function sometime bewteen 2 and 6 months after being on the meds (usually at month 3 is most common). Be aware that ALL meds in this class carry this risk, not just the simvastatin. If you have any of the side effects listed in the prescription info, stop the med immediately and call your MD (especially muscle cramps).

Best of luck to you. Via meds, exercise, and diet you can greatly effect your cholesterol level. Other than quitting smoking, helping manage your cholesterol and blood pressure are the two most important things you can do to lower your long term risk of having a major cardiovascular event (stroke, heart attack, sudden cardiac arrest, etc...)

Major studies in both the U.S. and Europe have PROVEN that you can extend people's lives by keeping their cholesterol within acceptable levels. This is one of the few absolutes in medicine.

Do what you have to do to get your numbers down.

I don't usually put my title on replies, but if you need to add validation to my reply, I have a doctorate of pharmacy and am a practicing clinician.

Are there other drugs in the Benicar & Lipitor class that are generic?

Benicar (olmesartan) is in the class of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB's). They are used for hypertension. The only generic available I believe is Cozaar (losartan).

Generally these drugs are interchangeable and can be titrated to effect.

As for Lipitor (atorvastatin) the only generic is Mevacor (lovastatin). Zocor (simvastatin) and Pravachol (pravastatin) generics have just been approved by the FDA (June 23, 2006 and April 24, 2006 respectively).

There ARE differences though among "statins" as to their potency. Lipitor is one of the strongest statins while Mevacor was the first one out there and also the weakest. Zocor is a middleweight. Pravachol is kind of between Zocor and Mevacor. Of course, you have dose limits so you cannot just keep taking more and more Mevacor to get the same activity as Lipitor.

See the following chart for a comparison.

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Comparison/…

Good luck. Generics do save consumers and the health-care system a lot of money.

Hypothesis Testing- Statistics?

In clinical tests of the drug Lipitor (generic name atorvastatin), 863 patients were treated with 10mg. doses of atorvastation, and 19 of those patients experienced flu symptoms (based on data from Parke- Davis). Use a 0.01 significance level to test the claim that the percentage of treated patients is greater that the 1.9% rate for patients not given the treatments.

go to mathnerds.com.

What is a good alternative STATIN or natural stuff instead of LIPITOR?

It must be getting ready to go GENERIC because OUR CO-PAY has SHOT UP DOUBLE from $60.00 to $120.00. Those drug cos. do stuff like that. You'd think,,after zillions been made the price would GO DOWN. I remember when ballpoint pens were first out you had to be RICH to have one,as years went by EVERYBODY GIVES THEM AWAY.

CoQ10.
http://faculty.washington.edu/ely/coenzq…

Statins help reduce inflamation a little but they are dangerous drugs. http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseas…
Cod liver oil, vitamin E, Magnesium, vitamin C, Vitamin A also help reduce inflamation.

Stay away from commercial vegetable oils. Too much omega 6 fatty acids like vegetable oils increase inflamation. Excess carbohydrates also increase inflamation.

Eat whole foods with healthy fats like eggs, cream, whole raw milk, raw cheese, liver, fish, chicken, red meat, preferably from healthy pasture raised animals, avocados, nuts, heathy fats like butter, lard, olive oil, tropical oils.

Click here and type a statin drug in the search to read side effects people are experiencing with statin drugs.
http://askapatient.com/

Confused about fats? Click here to learn more. http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats…

What is the BEST prescription drug plan under Medicare D?

I take Zoloft (generic), Lopressor (generic), Tricor (no generic) Lipitor (no generic) I need lowest out of pocket as I am disabled on SSDI and limited disability income....any recommendations. I have to select before midnight EST on 12/31/06 Thanks So Much, Tom

Unfortunately there isn't a "best prescription plan". The US government requires that all plans carry a similar list of formulary drugs and all these plans are set up with the same rules and laws. This does not mean you will get the same service. If you are on SSDI and have a limited income then you will qualify for extra help from the medicare part D. This will lower your cost and help you pay the co-payments. Call a local chain pharmacy and ask them if they can help you. Most chain pharmacy have a system that allows then to compare providers using the drugs you are already taking.

please edit this into correct english?

Singulair is taken every once a day at about the same time (evening for asthma). You may take it with or without food and take it as long as your doctor prescribes it, even if you have no asthma symptoms. If you get an asthma attack don’t take singulair for the immediate relief, instead use inhaled rescue medicine. So bring your inhaled rescue medicine with you wherever you are. For the prevention of exercise-induced asthma, take singulair at least 2 hours before exercise. If you are taking singulair daily for chronic asthma or allergic rhinitis, do not take an additional dose to prevent exercise-induced asthma. The bottom line is you can take singulair just for one time a day.

Singulair side effects that could possibly appear are:
• dizziness
• headache
• tiredness
• cough

The most recent information, singulair is the second-most dispensed prescription drugs after lipitor. But the problem is classic, like the other prescription drugs, it just way to expensive! The alternative is generic drug. Singulair has montelukast as its generic cunterpart. Search this drug and it could save you much. I will give a small comparison

Singulair is taken once every day at about the same time (evening for asthma). You may take it with or without food and take it as long as your doctor prescribes it, even if you have no asthma symptoms. If you get an asthma attack don’t take Singulair for immediate relief, instead use an inhaled rescue medicine. You should always carry your inhaled medication in the event that you should have an asthma attack. For the prevention of exercise-induced asthma take Singulair at least 2 hours before exercise. However, if you are taking Singulair daily for chronic asthma or allergic rhinitis, do not take an additional dose to prevent exercise-induced asthma. The bottom line is, you can take only take Singulair once a day.

Singulair's common side effects include:
• dizziness
• headache
• tiredness
• cough

Based on the most recent information, Singulair is the second-most dispensed prescription drug after Lipitor. However, like many other prescription drugs, it is simply too expensive for the average citizen. The alternative to this problem is a generic drug. Montelukast is Singluair's generic cunterpart. Researching this drug could save you money in the long run.

can i go from one drug to another?

I take Lipitor and with my new insurance i cant afford to buy it so my doctor switch me to simvastatin generic for zocor does zocor do the same and will it bother me since i been on lipitor for a couple of years my doctor just changed it

They are basically the same and you can switch from one to another without interruption. You should have no problems with the switch.