Statins block the liver enzyme that makes cholesterol, lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol and, with it, the risk of heart attack and stroke. They are among the most prescribed and most studied medicines in history. The practical differences between statins come down to potency — how much LDL a given dose removes — and how they are processed by the liver, which determines their interactions with other drugs.
Class descriptions are written by the Priya Life Science editorial team. Individual drug pages combine that summary with live label, approval, manufacturer and shortage data from the U.S. FDA via the openFDA API. This page is general information and is not medical advice — it is not exhaustive, drugs within a class are not automatically interchangeable, and approvals and brand names differ between the US, EU/Ireland (EMA/HPRA) and other regions. Always consult the official prescribing information and your clinician or pharmacist. Related: Drug Shortages Tracker · FDA Approvals · All drug comparisons