While the results of the meta-analyses seemed to show that statin users have a significantly increased risk of DM, the benefits of preventing cardiovascular events and death outweigh this risk. As of press time, lovastatin is the only option available on the lowest-cost generic formularies i.
Pravastatin was previously included on these formularies but was removed in January Pravastatin and simvastatin are included on some regional pharmacy-chain formularies, but pravastatin tends to be more expensive than either lovastatin or simvastatin, as shown in Table 4.
Though atorvastatin became available as a generic product in , it is still relatively more expensive compared to the other generic statins. Unfortunately, atorvastatin is the only generic statin included in the high-intensity treatment category.
Therefore, a patient with coronary heart disease CHD or a history of a cardiovascular event who has financial limitations and requires treatment with a high-intensity statin may be limited to a moderate-intensity treatment option.
In March , a settlement agreement was made between AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of Crestor rosuvastatin , and the pharmaceutical company Actavis for rights to manufacture generic rosuvastatin. Statins have made a significant impact in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular death, as shown in several clinical trials.
Generic availability of statins allows patients to afford treatment. However, cost may still be an issue if a high-intensity statin, such as atorvastatin, is indicated. IMS Health. National Prescription Audit. Dec Top 25 medicines dispensed by prescriptions U.
Updated March 22, Accessed May 7, Liao JK, Laufs U. Pleiotropic effects of statins. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. Efficacy and safety of atorvastatin in the prevention of cardiovascular end points in subjects with type 2 diabetes : the Atorvastatin Study for Prevention of coronary heart disease Endpoints in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ASPEN. Learn how to keep your heart healthy with current information and advice from Heart and Stroke Foundation experts.
Your healthcare provider or pharmacist are your best sources of information. You can also learn more about medications at any of these trusted sites. Health Canada - Drugs and Health Products Provides health and medical information for Canadians to maintain and improve their health. Your ministry of health also offers health resources in your province or territory.
Donate now. What is this medication? Canadian brand names are in brackets. What does it do? No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.
Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Recent Blog Articles. Health news headlines can be deceiving. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Preventing preeclampsia may be as simple as taking an aspirin. The good news is that a number of cholesterol-lowering medications are available as less-costly generics.
These generic cholesterol medications include:. If your medication is not available in generic form or even if it is, and you're still having trouble paying for it , you have several options that may help you save money. Talk with your healthcare provider about less costly options. Your practitioner may be able to 1 switch you to a cheaper medication, either a generic or a brand-name product with a lower price, 2 offer you samples of the brand-name form of the medication, or 3 give you a voucher from the drug company to buy the brand-name medication at a lower cost.
Ask about cutting higher-dose pills in half. It may be possible for you to buy your medication in a form that's twice your prescribed dose and then cut the pills in half to take them. Note: This isn't possible for every cholesterol-lowering medication. For instance, if you take simvastatin 40 mg every day, your healthcare provider may prescribe simvastatin 80 mg, with dosing specified as a one-half pill taken daily.
No generic available? Call the drug company. Some drug companies have prescription assistance programs that may allow you to get your medication at no or minimal cost. Check out your pharmacy, too: Some offer discount programs on medications. You should also know that medication prices can differ from one pharmacy to another. Check around to find the lowest price in your area.
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