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Lipator | Lipitor Proven Not Inferior To Crestor

tony — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:17:54 +0000

A recent 104-week randomized double blind study of 1,300 patients which compared the results of patients put on Crestor (rosuvastatin by AstraZeneca) versus Lipitor or Lipator (atorvastatin by Pfizer) showed some rather surprising results. Lipitor is a blockbuster drug shown to be superior in reducing cholesterol in the blood. Contrary to earlier studies by some researchers which suggested that Crestor could reverse the buildup of plaque in vessels leading to the heart, this study showed no significant difference between the two.

This cholesterol news has far-reaching implications for AstraZeneca which had been banking on hopes that former users of Lipitor who were beginning to swing to a cheaper generic version of Lipitor as the patent ran out, could be lured into buying Crestor for its claimed better effect.

Why Control Cholesterol?

tony — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:40:04 +0000

Cholesterol is a substance that is naturally produced by the human body and forms an essential component of the normal cell wall. However if this is produced in too great an amount, the levels of cholesterol rise beyond what is needed for the body functions and this is associated with an increased risk of deposition of this cholesterol in the inner lining of the blood vessels of the human body. This deposition with subsequent narrowing of the vessels is most significant in the vessels supplying the vital organs of the body, especially the heart and the brain.

Narrowing of vessels and blood supply to the brain leads to a higher chance of stroke and death of brain cells in the areas supplied. Narrowing of blood vessels and blood flow to the heart leads to ischemic heart disease and ultimately heart attacks.

It is known that if you can reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, this is associated with a long term lower risk of strokes and heart attacks.

But how do you reduce your cholesterol? In theory this is simple. Cut down on your intake of food containing high cholesterol such as butter, milk, fat meats, and egg yolk, among others. Exercise. Reduce weight. Only as a last resort is one advised to take some medicine to reduce the blood cholesterol.

Of all the medicines used to control cholesterol, the most effective are the group known as statins. Of all the statins, one of the most effective or most well known is a statin called atorvastatin, which goes by the brand of Lipitor, commonly misspelt as Lipator.

Cost Of Lipator

tony — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:48:33 +0000

Lipator (also known officially as Lipitor) is crystalline atorvastatin calcium. Made by Pfizer Inc, it is among the best-selling anti-cholesterol medications in the world. Studies have shown that Lipator is better than its nearest rival, Zocor (simvastatin), in reducing cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

However, price is a concern. The price of Lipitor 10mg ranges from about $70 to $90 per month, depending on where you get it. Lipitor which is a patented product loses its patent protection in 2011. When that happens one will see a whole barrage of generic atorvastatin products. Zocor(simvastatin) had already lost its patent in mid 2006 and this saw a lot of generic simvastatin coming in. Insurers in an effort to reduce costs had actively encouraged patients to switch to generic simvastatin which was priced less than a third of the Lipitor cost.

In view of the high cost of statins (the group of cholesterol lowering medicines that include Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, Crestor and Mevacor), should one therefore just not take any at all? Bad idea. The ultimate cost in treatment of complications of not taking statins like Lipator such as heart attacks and strokes far outweighs the cost of the medicine taken to prevent these very complications.