![]() ![]() ![]() However, there is little reliable evidence that it works and some studies show no effect at all. PolicosanolĮxtracted from sugarcane wax, policosanol has been reported to lower cholesterol and improve various medical conditions. It commonly causes intense skin flushing and is not recommended as an alternative to statins. There is some evidence to show niacin (vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid) can lower ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and raise ‘good’ high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, but little evidence that it reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke. They may cause gastrointestinal side effects and can lead to vitamin deficiencies if used long term. They are still used occasionally but are no longer recommended for reducing the risk of future heart attacks or strokes. These are relatively old drugs that were used before statins. Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins However, there is no evidence they reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke and they’re not recommended for prescription in the UK. There is some evidence that foods containing these stanols and sterols (Such as specially fortified sunflower spreads and yogurt drinks) can lower cholesterol by a modest amount (eight to 12 per cent). While they have a modest effect on lowering LDL cholesterol (15 to 20 per cent), they have not been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke and aren’t recommended as a statin alternative. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. Here are the main ones you might come across. Many other medicines and natural alternatives are claimed to lower cholesterol, but none of these work as well as statins. The US Food and Drug Adminsitration is considering whether statins should be made available OTC.7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins Sir Charles George, medical director of the British Heart Foundation said he is confident OTC statins will save lives. ![]() “OTC statins give otherwise healthy consumers the opportunity to take proactive steps to reduce their risk of a heart attack,” says the company spokesperson. says the National Health Service does not have unlimited resources and must prioritize whom it treats. “If it works as well as is being claimed, then why is it only being made available to those who can afford it?” Iheanacho asked. Zocor Heart-Pro costs £170.00 (Can$402) annually. The medication is also contraindicated if taken with certain other drugs.ĭTB also criticized the move on the basis of cost. While simvastatin has a good safety profile, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis and hepatic reactions are rare but severe side effects. The Royal College of General Practitioners says that without stricter rules, consumers may be sold medication they don't need. “Some could be wrongly classed and treated as being at only moderate risk of a heart attack, when in reality their risk is very much higher,” states DTB. Pharmacists rely on gender, age and self-reported risk factors before deciding whether to sell patients the drug. “To advocate a new controlled clinical study with the precise dose and population selected for self-medication is not supportable ethically, since the result is completely predictable on the basis of the existing body of evidence,” said a spokesperson for McNeil Ltd., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson MSD, the manufacturer of simvastatin.ĭTB says that claim may be too optimistic because it is based on studies of people who already had coronary heart disease.ĭTB also says the OTC protocol used to assess risk is flawed. The regulatory agency acknowledges there have been no trials of simvastatin 10-mg in the target population, but says there is good evidence it will reduce the risk of a coronary event by a third after 3 years' use. “People are, in effect, being used as guinea pigs for such treatment, and being charged for the privilege,” says Dr. In reviewing the change to OTC status, the DTB states that the lack of long-term efficacy trials to support the regulator's rationale is “alarming.” Simvastatin is available without a prescription but requires consultation with a pharmacist. ![]() Patients targeted are those at a 10% to 15% risk of an event in 10 years. The regulatory agency made the move to improve access to a medication that reduces the risk of a first major coronary event in people at moderate risk of coronary artery disease. The Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory Agency reclassified simvastatin (Zocor Heart-Pro) from prescription-only to OTC status for a 10-mg dosage in July 2004. The UK's drug regulatory agency approved the world's first over-the-counter (OTC) statin on the basis of inconclusive evidence, according to the UK's influential Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin ( DTB). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |