What is the generic name for the brand drug Lipitor?
Answer choices
- ASimvastatin
- BAtorvastatin
- CRosuvastatin
- DPravastatin
About this question
Looking for the generic name for Lipitor? Brand-to-generic statin pairs are high-yield on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) Medications domain because technicians use them every day at the counter and on practice quizzes alike.
This item asks you to map Lipitor to its generic. The correct match is atorvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used to lower LDL cholesterol. Distractors are usually other statin generics such as simvastatin, rosuvastatin, or pravastatin — the trap is confusing drugs in the same class. Lock Lipitor → atorvastatin early, then drill Zocor, Crestor, and Pravachol the same way.
Reveal answer & explanationShow
Correct answer
- ASimvastatin
- BAtorvastatinCorrect
- CRosuvastatin
- DPravastatin
Basic rationale
Lipitor is the brand name for atorvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) used to lower cholesterol.
Option explanations
- A: Incorrect. Simvastatin is the generic name for Zocor.
- B: Correct. Atorvastatin is the generic name for Lipitor.
- C: Incorrect. Rosuvastatin is the generic name for Crestor.
- D: Incorrect. Pravastatin is the generic name for Pravachol.
Deep Analysis
Core logic
Brand-to-generic matching is a core PTCE skill. Lipitor is one of the most commonly tested statin brand names and maps directly to atorvastatin.
Distractor analysis
A: Simvastatin is the generic for Zocor, not Lipitor. C: Rosuvastatin is the generic for Crestor. D: Pravastatin is the generic for Pravachol.
Exam trap
Statin brand names are frequently tested in pairs. Lipitor equals atorvastatin; do not confuse it with other -statin generics.
Memory tip
Lipitor sounds like lipid — atorvastatin lowers lipids.
Ready for more Medications questions? Sign in to practice.
Related questions
- What drug class does the medication Fluoxetine (Prozac) belong to?View question
- What is the therapeutic class of the drug Simvastatin?View question
- A customer picks up an insulin vial. How long can they keep it at room temperature after opening?View question
- What is the correct storage for a box of Xalatan (Latanoprost) before it is opened?View question
Master Medications for CPhT (PTCE)
Sign in to practice this domain with blueprint-aligned questions, mocks, and AI explanations — then track what to study next.