Whats the difference between cholesterol-lowering statins and Vytorin and Zetia?
A. Statins block the formation of bad cholesterol, or LDL, in the liver, while Zetia blocks its absorption in the intestines. Vytorin is simply Zetia combined with a statin called Zocor, which is now available in generic form as simvastatin. About 60% of patients who take Zetia take it with Zocor as Vytorin. Q: Who participated in the study? A: The study involved 720 patients with very high levels of cholesterol from an inherited form of heart disease. The study was designed to prove that Vytorin could slow the growth of plaque in carotid arteries supplying the brain more than simvastatin alone. Q: What were the findings? A: The researchers found that even though Vytorin dramatically reduced bad-cholesterol levels, it did not slow the growth of artery blockages more than generic Zocor. “It’s certainly not an alternative to high doses of statins, which we know work,” Nissen says. Q: Are other studies in the works? A: Three bigger studies are underway that will test whether Vytorin can p
