Question by TropyWife: 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.
Best answer:
Answer by aa889d
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.
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