Statins are a class of chemically related inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis known in the U.S. by the brand names Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor, Lipitor, Lescol, Crestor and Livalo. Their generic names, which are also the statin ingredient names, are lovastatin, pravastatin sodium, simvastatin, atorvastatin, fluvastatin sodium, rosuvastatin calcium and pitavastatin clcium. In addition to the statin compounds, these drugs contain other chemicals collectively referred to as excipients. These medically inactive ingredients serve as coatings, binders, fillers, antiadherents, disintegrants, emulsifiers, solubilizers, colors, preservatives and sustained release enablers.
Coatings, Binders, Fillers and Antiadherents
Chemicals in this category are one or more of these statin drugs: calcium carbonate, tribasic calcium phosphate, candelilla wax, cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, lactose, magnesium oxide, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, starch and talc. Fillers such as cellulose or calcium carbonate are needed because the actual weight of the statin is a small fraction of the total weight of the tablet.
Disintegrants, Emulsifiers and Solublizers
Chemicals in this category include one or more of these statin drugs: citric acid, colloidal anhydrous silica, croscarmellose sodium, polysorbate 80, povidone, crospovidone, simethicone emulsion, sodium lauryl sulfate and triacetin. These ingredients cause uniform mixing during the manufacturing process and timely disintegration in the gut.
Colors
This category contains one or more of the following statin drugs: titanium dioxide, FD&C blue, D&C yellow, red iron oxide and yellow iron oxide. Coloring is used to differentiate among doses.
Preservatives
These chemicals appear in one or more of the statin drugs: ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxyanisole and triethyl citrate.
Miscellaneous Ingredients
Lescol is in capsule form, as opposed to tablets for all the others, so it contains gelatin and pregelatinized corn starch. Some of the products are designed to be sustained release. These contain hypromellose and/or magnesium aluminometasilicate.
