Heart Health High Cholesterol Treatment Should You Use Generic Cholesterol Medications? If not, you have other options for saving money By Jennifer Moll, PharmD Jennifer Moll, PharmD Facebook Jennifer Moll, MS, PharmD, is a pharmacist actively involved in educating patients about the importance of heart disease prevention. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 14, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Jeffrey S. Lander, MD Medically reviewed by Jeffrey S. Lander, MD LinkedIn Twitter Jeffrey S. Lander, MD, is a board-certified cardiologist and the President and Governor of the American College of Cardiology, New Jersey chapter. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer LinkedIn Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years’ experience in consumer-oriented health and wellness content. Learn about our editorial process Print If you’re taking a cholesterol-lowering medication, you know that the monthly cost can add up, especially if the one you’re taking isn’t available in a generic (unbranded) form. And your overall costs can grow even more if you’re taking medications for other conditions besides your high cholesterol, such as diabetes. But even if you’re concerned about the cost of your cholesterol medication, remember the important reason why you’re taking it—and don’t stop taking it unless your healthcare provider says it’s okay. High cholesterol by itself has no symptoms, but you’re not taking the medication to prevent “symptoms” of cholesterol: You’re taking it to prevent symptoms of heart disease. Going off your medication and allowing your cholesterol level to rise again could put you at greatly increased risk for heart disease and even a heart attack—costing far more to treat than the price of staying on your cholesterol-lowering medication. The good news is that a number of cholesterol-lowering medications are available as less-costly generics. These generic cholesterol medications include: Simvastatin (Zocor) Atorvastatin (Lipitor) Rosuvastatin (Crestor) Gemfibrozil (Lopid) Fluvastatin (Lescol XL) Fenofibrate (Antara, Fenoglide, Tricor, Triglide) Some medications are no longer sold under their original brand names but are still available as generics: Lovastatin (originally marketed as Mevacor)Pravastatin (originally marketed as Pravachol)Cholestyramine (originally marketed as Questran) If your medication is not available in generic form (or even if it is, and you’re still having trouble paying for it), you have several options that may help you save money. Cathy Scola / Getty Images What You Can Do to Save Money Talk with your healthcare provider about less costly options. Your practitioner may be able to: Switch you to a cheaper medication, either a generic or a brand-name product with a lower price.Offer you samples of the brand-name form of the medication.Give you a voucher from the drug company to buy the brand-name medication at a lower cost. Ask about cutting higher-dose pills in half. It may be possible for you to buy your medication in a form that’s twice your prescribed dose and then cut the pills in half to take them. (Note: This isn’t possible for every cholesterol-lowering medication.) For instance, if you take simvastatin 40 mg every day, your healthcare provider may prescribe simvastatin 80 mg, with dosing specified as a one-half pill taken daily. No generic available? Call the drug company. Some drug companies have prescription assistance programs that may allow you to get your medication at no or minimal cost. Check out your pharmacy, too: Some offer discount programs on medications. You should also know that medication prices can differ from one pharmacy to another. Check around to find the lowest price in your area. Ask if you can take over-the-counter (OTC) products. If you take prescription omega-3 fatty acids (Lovaza) or extended-release niacin (Niacor) to lower your cholesterol, talk with your healthcare provider about taking an OTC version of your medication. You need to know that fish oil and niacin OTC products are not therapeutically equivalent to their prescription counterparts. However, if your healthcare provider says you can take one or more of them, they may be able to help you lower your cholesterol while putting a smaller dent in your pocketbook. Keep in mind, however, that although they are widely available and cheaper than prescription medications, OTC products may not be right for everyone. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to start a diet to better manage your cholesterol? Changing lifelong eating habits can be scary at first, but our guide will make it easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Ito MK. A comparative overview of prescription omega-3 fatty acid products. P T. 2015;40(12):826-57. PMID: 26681905