Statin Intensity Chart: Low, Moderate & High Intensity Doses
Complete statin intensity chart showing all statins by dose and intensity level. Understand what high, moderate, and low intensity statins mean for your treatment.
2 min read
Statins are classified by intensity based on how much they lower LDL cholesterol. Understanding statin intensity helps you know what to expect from your medication and have informed conversations with your doctor.
The Three Intensity Levels
- High-intensity: Lowers LDL by 50% or more
- Moderate-intensity: Lowers LDL by 30-49%
- Low-intensity: Lowers LDL by less than 30%
Statin Intensity Chart
High-Intensity Statins
Expected LDL reduction: ≥50%
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor) 40-80 mg
- Rosuvastatin (Crestor) 20-40 mg
Moderate-Intensity Statins
Expected LDL reduction: 30-49%
- Atorvastatin 10-20 mg
- Rosuvastatin 5-10 mg
- Simvastatin (Zocor) 20-40 mg
- Pravastatin (Pravachol) 40-80 mg
- Lovastatin (Mevacor) 40 mg
- Fluvastatin (Lescol) 80 mg
- Pitavastatin (Livalo) 2-4 mg
Low-Intensity Statins
Expected LDL reduction: <30%
- Simvastatin 10 mg
- Pravastatin 10-20 mg
- Lovastatin 20 mg
- Fluvastatin 20-40 mg
- Pitavastatin 1 mg
Who Needs Which Intensity?
High-Intensity Statins Are Recommended For:
- Anyone with existing cardiovascular disease (secondary prevention)
- LDL cholesterol ≥190 mg/dL
- People with diabetes aged 40-75 with elevated risk
- 10-year cardiovascular risk ≥20%
Moderate-Intensity May Be Appropriate For:
- People with diabetes aged 40-75 with lower risk
- 10-year cardiovascular risk 7.5-19.9%
- Those who can't tolerate high-intensity statins
Important Considerations
Individual Response Varies
The percentages are averages. Your actual LDL reduction may be higher or lower depending on genetics, diet, and other factors. Some people are "hyper-responders" while others respond less.
Doubling the Dose ≠ Doubling the Effect
Doubling a statin dose only reduces LDL by an additional 6% on average. This is why switching to a more potent statin is often more effective than increasing the dose.
Timing Matters for Some Statins
- Take at night: Simvastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin (short-acting)
- Any time: Atorvastatin, rosuvastatin (long-acting)
Side Effects
Muscle symptoms are reported by 5-10% of statin users. If you experience muscle pain, talk to your doctor — you may do better with a different statin or a lower dose.
Track Your Response
Your lipid panel 6-8 weeks after starting or changing statin therapy shows how you're responding. Track your LDL over time to ensure you're reaching your goals. If you're on a high-intensity statin and not seeing 50%+ reduction, discuss it with your doctor.