• Which statin?
  • What dose?
  • What side effects?
  • Follow up

The following chart, taken from NICE CKS, shows the intensity of statins at different doses. The percentages refer to the predicted drop in LDL Cholesterol:

High intensity

(above 40%)

Medium intensity

(31–40%)

Low intensity

(20–30%)

Atorvastatin
20 mg (43%) 10 mg (37%)
40 mg (49%)
80 mg (55%)
Simvastatin
80 mg (42%) 20 mg (32%) 10 mg (27%)
40 mg (37%)
Pravastatin
10 mg (20%)
20 mg (24%)
40 mg (29%)
Fluvastatin
80 mg (33%) 20 mg (21%)
40 mg (27%)
Rosuvastatin
10 mg (43%) 5 mg (38%)
20 mg (48%)
40 mg (53%)
Adapted from: [NICE, 2016a]