Heart disease claims the lives of over 25 percent of Americans, with 70 percent of these deaths from coronary artery disease. High blood cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary artery disease and can cause heart attacks and stroke. Cholesterol-lowering drugs can help you reduce the risk of heart disease. However, these drugs have potential harmful side effects. Consult your doctor about the benefits and risks of cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Atorvastatin
The FDA approved Lipitor as a new molecular entity in 1996 for oral administration by tablet. Atorvastatin is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Lipitor. According to the product label, Lipitor is indicated to reduce elevated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol, in adult patients with high blood cholesterol. The product label warns users that Lipitor can cause rhabdomyolysis, a condition that involves the breakdown of your skeletal muscle and increased risk of kidney damage or failure and even death. If you are taking Lipitor and develop rhabdomyolysis, consult your doctor and temporarily withhold or discontinue taking the medication.
Rosuvastatin
The FDA approved Crestor as a new molecular entity in 2003 for oral administration by tablet. Rosuvastatin is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Crestor. According to the product label, Crestor is indicated for patients with high cholesterol as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol. The product label warns users that Crestor can cause liver enzyme abnormalities, particularly persistent elevations of transaminases which are enzymes involved with amino acid and protein metabolism. Elevations of transaminases can cause liver damage. Your doctor will need to monitor your liver enzymes periodically during your treatment with Crestor.
Simvastatin
The FDA approved Zocor as a new molecular entity in 1991 for oral administration by tablet. Simvastatin is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Zocor. According to the product label, Zocor is indicated as an adjunctive therapy to diet to reduce elevated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol in patients with high blood cholesterol. Taking simvastain may increase your risk for memory loss. Research by scientists at the Bronx VA Hospital in New York and published in "Pharmacotherapy" in 2001 report a case of a 51-year-old man who experienced delayed-onset, progressive memory loss while receiving simvastatin for high blood cholesterol. When the drug was removed from therapy his memory improved gradually within a month. Further research by scientists at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina and published in "Pharmacotherapy" in 2003 report 36 additional cases of memory loss in patients taking simvastatin.
Gemfibrozil
Lopid is a prescription drug for treatment of high blood cholesterol and fat. Gemfibrozil is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Lopid. Research by scientists at the Division of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan and published in "Renal Failure" in 2003 reports that gemfibrozil induces severe muscle weakness and rhabdomyolysis with consequential renal failure.
