Comparison of commonly used statins

Statins, as the world-wide first-line drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, are the most important drugs for primary and secondary prevention of cardioascular diseases. Statins differ in their performances in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics across sub-categories. In addition, the adverse reactions of statins may influence other health conditions in patients. This paper reviews the similarities and differences in pharmacokinetics, clinical application and safety of 7 statins. It aims to provide an empirical guidence for clinical practice in choosing suitable statin as well as reducing the incidence of adverse reactions.