Re: Atorvastatin Appears Safe at High Doses

jason@xxxxxxxxxx (Jason) wrote in news:jason-2203061510210001@66-52-22-
17.lsan.pw-dia.impulse.net:

In article <Gu8Uf.6335$XS.3381@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Bill"
<xxx@xxxxx> wrote:

Atorvastatin Appears Safe at High Doses




NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 20 (updated Feb 27) - A high dose of
atorvastatin (80 mg) has a safety profile similar to that of a lower
dose of
the drug (10 mg), results of a meta-analysis show.

For patients at very high risk for coronary heart disease, the
National
Cholesterol Education Panel recommends aggressive lowering of low-
density
lipoprotein cholesterol. According to Dr. Connie Newman and colleagues
at
Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals in New York, physicians may be concerned
about
prescribing statins at the doses required to meet these
recommendations.

To assess the safety of the drug at the different doses, Dr. Newman's
group
pooled data from 49 clinical trials conducted between 1992 and 2004,
which
included data for 14,236 patients treated for an average of 2 weeks to
52
months. Treatment comprised atorvastatin 10 mg (n = 7258),
atorvastatin 80 mg
(n = 4798), or placebo (n = 2180).

Overall, the adverse event profiles for the three groups were similar,
the
authors report in the American Journal of Cardiology for January.
There were
actually more serious, nonfatal adverse events documented in the
placebo
group
(134.5/1000 patient-years) than in either atorvastatin group
(92.0/1000
in the
10 mg group and 82.2/1000 in the 80 mg group).

Rhabdomyolysis, a particular concern with statin treatment, was not
observed
in any of the patients.

Persistent elevations in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate
aminotransferase > 3 times the upper limit of normal were documented
in one
patient in the placebo group, three in the atorvastatin 10 mg group,
and two
in the atorvastatin 80 mg group. Five patients receiving atorvastatin
80
developed hepatitis, which resolved within 4 weeks after discontinuing
the
drug.

The incidence of hematuria or albuminuria was low and similar in the
two
atorvastatin groups.

"The results of this analysis support the positive safety profile of
atorvastatin at the highest dose," Dr. Newman and her colleagues
conclude.

Am J Cardiol 2006;97:61-67.

Most of the "good" doctors start their patients off on the low dose
statins. They only prescribe the higher dose statins if those patients
did
not have any side effects on the low dose statins. According to Jay S.
Cohen, M.D. the author of "What You Must Know About Statin Drugs and
Their
Natural Alternatives"--that's the best way to do it. As most all
doctors
know, a low dose statin is LESS likely to cause side effects than a
high
dose statin.
I am not a doctor. For example, A 5 mg dose of Lipitor is much safer
(and
is less likely to cause side effects) than a 80 mg dose of Lipitor. If
you
do not
believe me--read Dr. Cohen's book.
Jason





Jason



Then how do you explain the study results that "..Overall, the adverse
event profiles for the three groups were similar.."?


L.
.

Relevant Pages

  • NEW: Statins "MAY" help reduce subsequent cardio events A to Z trial
    ... Coronary Patients ... Higher Dose Regimen May Increase Risk for Muscle Problems ... with statin drugs has been shown to reduce the risk for death, ... of simvastatin for 30 days and then 80 mg/d of simvastatin thereafter) ...
    (sci.med.cardiology)
  • Re: Atorvastatin Appears Safe at High Doses
    ... atorvastatin has a safety profile similar to that of a lower ... For patients at very high risk for coronary heart disease, ... Most of the "good" doctors start their patients off on the low dose ... did NOT have ANY side effects when they took low dose statins. ...
    (sci.med.cardiology)
  • Re: Atorvastatin Appears Safe at High Doses
    ... atorvastatin has a safety profile similar to that of a lower ... Most of the "good" doctors start their patients off on the low dose ... did NOT have ANY side effects when they took low dose statins. ...
    (sci.med.cardiology)