If you or your loved ones take any of the following drugs: Zetia, Vytorin or Inegy, you may need to see your doctor as soon as possible to have your medications evaluated.
A new study, just published in the New England Journal of Medicine, evaluated the addition of either Extended-Release Niacin (also known as vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid) or Ezetimibe (found in the above named drugs) to statin therapy for reduction of cardiovascular risk factors. The study found that despite the fact that Ezetimibe was designed to further lower bad cholesterol levels, the end result was thickening of the arteries (a bad thing!) and increased rates of cardiovascular events.
Authors of the study state: “Thus, we believe that prudent clinical practice currently favorsthe avoidance of ezetimibe, with consideration of further restrictionon its use in lieu of clinically validated regimens, until itsnet effect on clinical outcomes can be fully ascertained.”
It is important that you not change your medication without seeing your doctor first. It is also important to know that if you can tolerate Extended-Release Niacin, this may be a better choice for reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, as we have previously recommended.
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NEJM, Nov 15, 2009, Extended-Release Niacin or Ezetimibe and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Taylor et al
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