Vytorin Disease Interactions - Drugs.com
Hmg-Coa Reductase Inhibitors (Includes Vytorin) Liver Disease Severe Potential Hazard, High plausibility The use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors is contraindicated in patients with active liver disease or unexplained, persistent elevations of serum transaminases. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are extensively metabolized by the liver. Decreased drug metabolism may lead to accumulation and increased risk of toxicity, including biochemical abnormalities of liver function and, rarely, jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty change in the liver, and fulminant hepatic necrosis. Therapy with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors should be administered cautiously in patients with a history of liver disease and/or heavy alcohol use. A lower initial dosage may be appropriate, and clinical monitoring of liver transaminase levels according to the individual product package labeling is recommended. Patients who develop elevated ALT or AST levels during therapy should be monitored until abnormalities resolve. If an increase above 3 times the upper limit of normal persists, consideration should be given to a reduction in dosage or withdrawal of therapy. Mauro VF "Clinical pharmacokinetics and practical applications of simvastatin." Clin Pharmacokinet 24 (1993): 195-202 "Lovastatin 5-year safety and efficacy study. Lovastatin Study Groups I through IV." Arch Intern Med 153 (1993): 1079-87 Smit JWA, Wijnne HJA, Schobben F, Sitsen A, Debruin TWA, Erkelens DW "Effects of alcohol consumption on pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of fluvastatin." Am J Cardiol 76 (1995): a89-96 Pentikainen PJ, Saraheimo M, Schwartz JI, Amin RD, Schwartz MS, Brunner-Ferber F, Rogers JD "Comparative pharmacokinetics of lovastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin in humans." J Clin Pharmacol 32 (1992): 136-40 Pan HY, Morr Continue reading >>
Vytorin (exetimibe/simvastatin) Dual Inhibition Of The Two Sources Of Cholestero
Home / Resources / Articles / Vytorin (exetimibe/simvastatin) Dual Inhibition of the Two Sources of Cholestero Vytorin (exetimibe/simvastatin) Dual Inhibition of the Two Sources of Cholestero Loweres LDL cholesterol by 52 percent. VYTORIN(TM) lowered LDL cholesterol by 52 percent at the recommended starting dose (10/20 mg) and 60 percent at the maximum dose (10/80 mg). Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved VYTORIN(TM) (ezetimibe/simvastatin) for the treatment of high LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed hyperlipidemia as adjunctive therapy to diet when diet alone is not enough. VYTORIN is the first and only product approved to treat the two sources of cholesterol by inhibiting the production of cholesterol in the liver and blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, including cholesterol from food. The active ingredients in VYTORIN are ezetimibe and simvastatin. The recommended starting dose of VYTORIN is 10/20 mg (10 mg ezetimibe/20 mg simvastatin). "Many patients who continue to have high cholesterol despite diet and other lifestyle modifications may require powerful LDL cholesterol lowering-agents and to do this we frequently look to highly efficacious medicines to provide the reduction they need," said Christie Ballantyne, M.D., director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Methodist DeBakey Heart Center, Houston, TX. In head-to-head trials, VYTORIN provided greater reductions in LDL cholesterol than atorvastatin (Lipitor) and simvastatin (Zocor) across the dosing range "The dual inhibition of cholesterol provided by VYTORIN delivers impressive LDL cholesterol reductions across the dosing range and offers physicians a unique Continue reading >>
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Clinical Trial Of Zocor (simvastatin) And Vytorin (ezetimibe/simvastatin) In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes
You have reached the maximum number of saved studies (100). Please remove one or more studies before adding more. Clinical Trial of Zocor (Simvastatin) and Vytorin (Ezetimibe/Simvastatin) in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00477204 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Information provided by (Responsible Party): Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information The purpose of the study is to establish the safety of ezetimibe/simvastatin and simvastatin in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes and to determine the amount of decrease in LDL-cholesterol.The study hypothesizes that simvastatin and ezetimibe/simvastatin will be safe in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes and will lower LDL-cholesterol at 6 months. Drug: Simvastatin Drug: Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and since atherosclerosis begins in childhood, data to inform clinicians as to appropriate dyslipidemia treatment in this high-risk population are of great public health importance. In this trial of lipid-lowering medications (Zocor [simvastatin], a statin, compared to Vytorin [ezetimibe/simvastatin], a combination of a statin and Zetia, a medication that blocks cholesterol absorption) will be performed in patients ages 12-18 years with LDL 130 mg/dl, consistent with current ADA guidelines. The study hypothesizes that Zocor and Vytorin will be Continue reading >>
Benefit Of Adding Ezetimibe To Statin Therapy On Cardiovascular Outcomes Andsafety In Patients With Versus Without Diabetes Mellitus: Results From Improve-it(improved Reduction Of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial).
1. Circulation. 2018 Apr 10;137(15):1571-1582. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.030950. Epub 2017 Dec 20. Benefit of Adding Ezetimibe to Statin Therapy on Cardiovascular Outcomes andSafety in Patients With Versus Without Diabetes Mellitus: Results From IMPROVE-IT(Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial). Giugliano RP(1), Cannon CP(2), Blazing MA(3), Nicolau JC(4), Corbaln R(5),pinar J(6), Park JG(2), White JA(3), Bohula EA(2), Braunwald E(2); IMPROVE-IT(Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial)Investigators. (1)TIMI Study Group, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (R.P.G., C.P.C., J.-G.P., E.A.B., E.B.). [email protected]. (2)TIMI Study Group, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (R.P.G., C.P.C., J.-G.P., E.A.B., E.B.). (3)Duke Clinical Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Durham, NC (M.A.B., J.A.W.). (4)Instituto do Coracao (InCor) Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, HCFMUSP, Brazil (J.C.N.). (5)Divisin Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Centro Mdico Clnica, Santiago, Chile (R.C.). (6)Internal Cardiology Department, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic (J.S.). BACKGROUND: Ezetimibe, when added to simvastatin, reduces cardiovascular eventsafter acute coronary syndrome. We explored outcomes stratified by diabetesmellitus (DM).METHODS: In IMPROVE-IT (Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin EfficacyInternational Trial), 18 144 patients after acute coronary syndrome withlow-density lipoprotein cholesterol 50 to 125 mg/dL were randomized to 40 mgezetimibe/simvastatin (E/S) or 40 mg placebo/simvastatin. The primary compositeend point was cardiovascular death, major c Continue reading >>
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Vytorin (ezetimibe And Simvastatin): Side Effects, Interactions, Warning, Dosage & Uses
VYTORIN contains ezetimibe, a selective inhibitor ofintestinal cholesterol and related phytosterol absorption, and simvastatin, anHMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. The chemical name of ezetimibe is1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3(R)-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3(S)-hydroxypropyl]- 4(S)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-azetidinone.The empirical formula is C24H21F2NO3and its molecular weight is 409.4. Ezetimibe is a white, crystalline powder that is freelyto very soluble in ethanol, methanol, and acetone and practically insoluble inwater. Its structural formula is: Simvastatin, an inactive lactone, is hydrolyzed to thecorresponding -hydroxyacid form, which is an inhibitor of HMG-CoAreductase. Simvastatin is butanoic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-,1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydro- 3,7-dimethyl-8-[2-(tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-6-oxo-2H-pyran-2-yl)-ethyl]-1-naphthalenylester, [1S- [1,3,7,8(2S*,4S*),-8a]]. Theempirical formula of simvastatin is C25H38O5and its molecular weight is 418.57. Simvastatin is a white to off-white, nonhygroscopic,crystalline powder that is practically insoluble in water and freely soluble in chloroform , methanol and ethanol. Its structural formula is: VYTORIN is available for oral use as tablets containing10 mg of ezetimibe, and 10 mg of simvastatin (VYTORIN 10/10), 20 mg ofsimvastatin (VYTORIN 10/20), 40 mg of simvastatin (VYTORIN 10/40), or 80 mg ofsimvastatin (VYTORIN 10/80). Each tablet contains the following inactiveingredients: butylated hydroxyanisole NF, citric acid monohydrate USP,croscarmellose sodium NF, hypromellose USP, lactose monohydrate NF, magnesiumstearate NF, microcrystalline cellulose NF, and propyl gallate NF. What are the possible side effects of ezetimibe and simvastatin (Vytorin)? Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathin Continue reading >>
Fda Warns Statin Users Of Memory Loss And Diabetes Risks
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added new safety warnings to cholesterol-reducing statin drugs on Wednesday, noting increased risks of Type 2 diabetes and memory loss for patients who take the medications. The changes to the prescribing information apply to the class of statins, including many popularly prescribed drugs such as Lipitor (atorvastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin) and Vytorin (simvastatin/ezetimibe). The new warnings are based on results from the latest clinical trials and reports of adverse events from patients, physicians and drugmakers. The FDA said that statins may increase users’ risk of brain-related effects like memory loss and confusion. The reports have generally not been serious, however, and the symptoms go away once the drug is stopped, the agency said. Statins’ labels will now also warn patients and doctors that the drugs may cause a small increase in blood sugar levels and Type 2 diabetes — an effect that has been shown previously in studies. Type 2 diabetes can further increase the risk of heart disease. In addition, the FDA made a label change specific to Mevacor (lovastatin). Mevacor can interact with other drugs, increasing the risk for muscle pain and weakness, another side effect that has previously been associated with high-dose statin use. Other drugs may raise such risks by increasing the amount of statins in the blood, and the FDA warned that Mevacor should not be taken with protease inhibitors, which are used to treat HIV, certain antibiotics and some anti-fungal medications. At the same time, the statins’ labeling will no longer require the routine monitoring of patients’ liver enzymes, which was originally intended to alert doctors if the medications were becoming toxic and starting to damage the Continue reading >>
Ezetimibe And Simvastatin
What else should I know about ezetimibe and simvastatin? What is ezetimibe and simvastatin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Vytorin is a combination of ezetimibe ( Zetia ) and simvastatin ( Zocor ) that is used for treating high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Vytorin reduces total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol while it increases high density lipoprotein ( HDL or "good") cholesterol. The ezetimibe component of Vytorin lowers blood cholesterol by blocking the absorption of cholesterol, including dietary cholesterol, from the intestine. It does not affect the absorption of triglycerides . The simvastatin component of Vytorin belongs to a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, commonly called " statins ." Statins reduce cholesterol by blocking an enzyme in the liver (HMG-CoA reductase) that produces cholesterol. Statins lower total and LDL cholesterol in the blood as well as triglycerides . They also increase HDL cholesterol . LDL cholesterol is believed to be an important cause of coronary artery disease . Lowering LDL cholesterol levels slows and may even reverse coronary artery disease . Raising HDL cholesterol levels also may slow coronary artery disease. The FDA approved Vytorin in July 2004. What brand names are available for ezetimibe and simvastatin? Is ezetimibe and simvastatin available as a generic drug? Do I need a prescription for ezetimibe and simvastatin? What are the side effects of ezetimibe and simvastatin? The most common side effects of Vytorin are: Hypersensitivity reactions also have been reported. The most serious potential side effects are liver damage and muscle inflammation or breakdown. The simvastatin component of Vytorin is a statin. Therefore it shares side effects, such as liv Continue reading >>
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Vytorin And Liver Problems
Cholesterol Home > Vytorin and Liver Problems For people who are taking Vytorin, liver problems are a possible risk. Because statins such as Vytorin are known to increase liver enzyme levels, your doctor will measure your levels prior to you starting the medication and periodically during the treatment process. If liver problems such as hepatitis or jaundice develop, your healthcare provider may switch you to a different medication. As with any medication, side effects can occur while taking Vytorin ( ezetimibe/simvastatin ), including possible problems with the liver. Problems with Vytorin that may develop include: Hepatitis, which is an inflammation of the liver that can cause tiredness or a general feeling of illness Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes that can occur when the liver is damaged. Increases in liver enzymes occur in 1.7 percent of people taking Vytorin. This increase appears to be more prevalent in people who are taking higher doses. The other liver problems mentioned occur in less than 1 percent of people. Because these potential Vytorin side effects are so rare, it is difficult to tell whether they are caused by the medication or by something else. Liver enzymes are usually measured to see if a person has liver damage. They do not measure how well the liver is working. A number of things can increase liver enzymes, including: Continue reading >>
Vytorin | Diabetes Health
My grandmothers, the type 2 have struggled with their diabetes as long as I could remember. Later my mother followed in her mothers footsteps. Sadly, my brother followed in my mothers footsteps and experienced an early passing at the age of 53. My brother Jamals passing had the greatest impact on me. Probably because were the Irish twins; eleven months apart and his departure devastated me. As I tell most people, diabetes is not a glamorous profession. Most people that work in the industry have a personal connection. This is why I am still here publishing after 26 years. On the flip side of the coin, helping and inspiring people is my mission. I understand the daily challenges you face regardless of your education, IQ and economic circumstance. I am not a healthcare professional. Simply a lay person who has lived with a Type 1 and Type 2 family member who struggled with their disease. My former Type 1 husband was a role model in how to manage your diabetes, while my intelligent family members were role models on how an invisible disease can be misunderstood, devastating the quality of their life while leaving heart broken family members behind. The perils of my experience have taught me to never judge anyone. As knowledgeable as I am, I also realize that I have no idea of the strings that pull at each person heart. What I love about the diabetes community? Once I meet someone and we share that we have a common experience; their diabetes and my life long experience as a care taker, we tend to have an instant bond. Think about it. How many people do you meet who you feel really get you right after your introduction? The conversations that follow tend to be very personal. Not a common experience with all strangers. I started this column because where ever I go, people ten Continue reading >>
Rx For Uncertainty: Diabetes Forecast
Does a popular cholesterol-lowering drug do what it's supposed to? A new study has raised questions about the effectiveness of the cholesterol drug Zetia and its sister drug Vytorin, which combines Zetia with another drug, Zocor. Research released in January found that Vytorin did no better at slowing artery plaque build-up than Zocor alone, although patients on Vytorin dropped their LDL, or "bad," cholesterol almost 20 percent more than those taking only Zocor. Currently, roughly a million prescriptions are written each week for Zetia and Vytorin, and they are relatively pricey drugs, at three times the cost of simvastatin, Zocor's generic version. After the study results were made public in a press release from the drug company, the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology issued a joint statement advising people taking the drug to consult their physicians, adding that the study was not large or long enough to reach definite conclusions-and that data from larger studies are still to come from manufacturer Merck/Schering-Plough. (The company's press release can be viewed at www.sch-plough.com/schering_plough/news/release.jsp?releaseID=1095943.) Some critics of the two-year study question its use of artery thickening as a measure of the drug's effectiveness. "The study was done over a short interval and did not look at real disease events, like heart attacks," says University of Colorado endocrinologist Robert Eckel, MD, a former AHA president, "so we can't say from the results how taking Zetia will play out over time." The study of just over 700 patients with a hereditary high-cholesterol condition was also quite small, notes Eckel. He points to three current and much larger studies involving 20,000 patients that should provide more telling Continue reading >>
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Is Vytorin Cancer Risk Real?
FAQ: Why Congress and the FDA Are Investigating Vytorin Aug. 22, 2008 - Is there really any reason to suspect a link between the cholesterol -lowering drug Vytorin and cancer ? Some experts don't think so. Other experts do. Congressional and FDA investigations are under way. What's going on? This WebMD FAQ provides a guide to the ongoing story. Vytorin is a combination of two cholesterol -lowering drugs, the statin drug Zocor (from Merck) and Zetia (from Merck and Schering-Plough). Like other statins , Zocor blocks an enzyme needed for cholesterol production. Zetia works differently: It prevents the gut from absorbing cholesterol. Does Vytorin work better than a statin drug taken alone? That's what ongoing clinical trials are trying to find out. Controversy surrounds the first of these trials -- it was finished in 2006, but results came out only this year. Those results suggested that while Vytorin cuts cholesterol, it does not reduce heart disease any more than a statin alone. Recently, researchers reported results from a study of Vytorin vs. Zocor alone in patients with narrowing of a major heart valve: the SEAS study, sponsored by Merck. This report, too, is controversial. Instead of reporting the findings at a major medical meeting, the investigators held a press conference. And instead of publishing the results in a peer-reviewed medical journal, the investigators issued a press release. The results were not impressive. They suggest that Vytorin did not reduce heart "events" better than placebo , although it did cut cholesterol and also reduced clot-related strokes by 22%. There is no proof that Vytorin causes or promotes cancer . But in the 2,000-patient SEAS study, patients taking Vytorin died of cancer twice as often as did patients taking an inactive placebo . Continue reading >>
Vytorin: Indications, Side Effects, Warnings - Drugs.com
Generic Name: Ezetimibe and Simvastatin (ez ET i mibe & SIM va stat in) It is used to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol (HDL). It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor. What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Vytorin? If you have an allergy to ezetimibe, simvastatin, or any other part of Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin). If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives ; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs. If you take any drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins ) that must not be taken with Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin), like certain drugs that are used for HIV , infections, or depression . There are many drugs that must not be taken with Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin). Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you if you are taking a drug that must not be taken with Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin). If you have liver disease or raised liver enzymes. If you are pregnant or may be pregnant. Do not take Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin) if you are pregnant. If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin). This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin). Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins ) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin) with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor. What Continue reading >>
Vytorin Injury Lawsuits : Rottenstein Law Group Llp
The anti-cholesterol drug combination ezetimibe/simvastatinsold under the brand namesVytorin andInegyhas been proven to be less effective than advertised. It has also been linked to cancer, and one of its components, simvastatin, might cause muscle damage (including rhabdomyolysis), liver damage, diabetes, and memory loss. Vytorin is the brand name for the drug combination ofezetimibe and simvastatin. Made and sold jointly by Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough, this prescription medication is used to treat dyslipidemiaexcess cholesterol. Ezetimibe is known more commonly as Zetia in the United States and Ezetrol elsewhere; simvastatin is also sold separately as Zocor. Ezetimibe was first approved for sale in the U.S. in the mid-2000s; simvastatin received its approval on December 23, 1991. Vytorin comes in the form of tablets to be taken orally. The ezetimibe dosage remains the same at 10mg, but the amount of simvastatin varies at 10mg, 20mg, 40mg, and 80mg. Vytorin entered the market some time in 2006. Vytorin sales have given its manufacturers $4-5 billion per year, though sales have been declining. Both drugs affect users differently, and whether they are effective at all is the subject of much controversy. Ezetimibe supposedly prevents the small intestine from absorbing cholesterol. It has other indirect effects on cholesterol that prevent it from entering the blood plasma. Simvastatin is a statin-class of anti-cholesterol drugs that scientists first started exploring in the 1950s. Like all statins, simvastatin prevents the metabolic creation of cholesterol by blocking critical enzymes. By combining the two drugs in Vytorin, Merck and Schering-Plough believed they could both prevent the creation and absorption of cholesterol in the human body. Vytorin Might Be Ineffect Continue reading >>
Bmi No Issue For Vytorin In Diabetes
by Ed Susman, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today This article is a collaboration between MedPage Today and: Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. This post hoc analysis of a randomized, double-blind, 6-week study suggests that switching to ezetimibe/simvastatin was more effective at reducing LDL-C and total cholesterol compared with doubling the baseline statin dose in diabetic patients regardless of BMI. BERLIN Whether a diabetic patient is obese or non-obese, treatment with the combination of ezetimibe/simvastatin (Vytorin) works consistently to reduce cholesterol levels, researchers said. The combination drug allowed 52.2% of obese and 57.4% of non-obese patients to reach their LDL cholesterol goals, said Jeffrey Rosen, MD, of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. The ezetimibe/simvastatin treatment also enabled 62.2% of the 181 obese patients and 63.2% of the 141 non-obese patients to achieve their non-HDL cholesterol goals, he reported here at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. The consistency of the combination therapy, Rosen told MedPage Today, was also seen in the success rate of reaching a goal of apolipoprotein B (apo B) -- 45.8% of obese and 50% of non-obese patients reached the apo B goal. Rosen and colleagues performed a post hoc analysis of a trial in which patients who were unable to achieve goals after 6 weeks of monotherapy with simvastatin (Zocor) or atorvastatin (Lipitor) were then switched to ezetimibe/simvastatin, or they doubled their simvastatin or atorvastatin dose, or they were allowed to receive rosuvastatin (Crestor). "Regardless of baseline body Continue reading >>
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Vytorin Study Results Disappoint
The newly released results of a preliminary study suggest that the drug Vytorin, which combines the cholesterol-lowering drug ezetimibe with a statin , may slow the growth of arterial plaque no more effectively than a statin taken alone. Because ezetimibe lowers cholesterol by a different mechanism than statins, it was hoped that a combination of the two drugs would be more effective than either drug used alone. But it was not. Arterial plaque is what raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. The trial, called the ENHANCE study, followed 720 people with a gene that causes very high LDL, or bad, cholesterol levels. For two years, half of the participants were assigned to receive Vytorin containing ezetimibe and the statin drug simvastatin (brand name Zocor; also available generically). (Ezetimibe is also sold separately under the brand name Zetia). The other half received simvastatin alone. The combination of drugs did lower LDL cholesterol levels more than the statin alone. Over the course of the study, the people who took only simvastatin had an average reduction in their LDL cholesterol levels of 41%. The people who took simvastatin combined with ezetimibe had a greater reduction in their LDL cholesterol levels58%. But there was no significant difference in the growth of plaque in people who took the combination of the two drugs and in those who took simvastatin alone. According to the American Heart Association, the study was not large or long enough to determine whether the drug combination was more or less effective than simvastatin alone in decreasing heart attacks or deaths. This study was funded by Merck and Schering-Plough, the companies that manufacture Zetia and Vytorin. There has been some controversy over the release of results from the study, because th Continue reading >>
