FDA issues warning for high doses of Zocor

2010-03-19T13:00:16Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Patients on the highest approved dose of the cholesterol-lowering drug Zocor may be at increased risk of muscle injury, U.S. regulators warned on Friday.</p><p>Made by Merck & Co and sold under the brand name Zocor, simvastatin is also is sold in combination with ezetimi...

FDA warns of greater muscle risk from Zocor

2010-03-19T10:00:10Z

<div><p>The Food and Drug Administration said Friday the highest available dose of Zocor, a component in cholesterol drugs, can cause muscle damage as well as severe and potentially lethal kidney damage.</p><p>The agency said statin drugs like Zocor are known to cause muscle damage in some patients, but the risk is more severe when patients are...

Summary Box: High-dose Lipitor lessens heart risk

2010-03-15T15:30:33Z

<div id="subtitle">Summary Box: Pfizer study finds high-dose Lipitor cuts heart risk in riskier patients</div><div><p>NEW LIPITOR DATA: In some heart patients, the highest dose of Lipitor cut risk of heart attack and other complications by a third, compared to the lowest dose.</p><p>PATIENT POPULATION: Patients in this new data analysis had heart disease, kidney...

Adding fat-lowering drug no help for diabetic hearts

2010-03-15T13:16:11Z

<div><p>ATLANTA (Reuters) - Adding a drug that lowers blood fats known as triglycerides to cholesterol-fighting statins provided no additional protection from heart attack, stroke and death from heart disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes, according to data from a large study.</p><p>The study run by the

No heart benefit seen with fibrates in diabetics

2010-03-14T14:15:32Z

<div><p>ATLANTA (Reuters) - Adding a triglyceride-lowering drug to cholesterol-fighting statins provided no additional protection from heart attack, stroke and death from heart disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes, according to data from a large study.</p><p>The study run by the Vytorin cholesterol pill decided there are no serious safety problems, so the study can continue.</p><p>ANALYSTS' TAKE: That result was generally expected, and Vytorin sales likely will keep ...

Analyst: Merck's Vytorin sales will keep dropping

2010-03-12T11:15:24Z

<div id="subtitle">Analyst: Sales of Merck cholesterol pill Vytorin will keep falling, no matter what study finds</div><div><p>Sales of Merck & Co.'s blockbuster cholesterol drug Vytorin likely will continue to fall amid rising competition from rival brands and generic versions in the same class of pills, an analyst predicted Friday.</p><p>Reuters) - Merck & Co on Thursday said an independent data safety monitoring board has approved continuation of a big study meant to determine whether its blockbuster Vytorin cholesterol drug prevents heart attacks and stroke.</p><p>Merck said a green light for the so-called "IMPROVE-IT" study to continue was given after the panel condu...

Doctors fail to cut cholesterol enough

2010-03-10T16:30:08Z

<div><p>LONDON (Reuters) - Only half of patients at high risk of heart disease are given the right targets for cutting their cholesterol and millions may suffer heart attack or stroke due to doctors' poor advice, scientists said on Thursday.</p><p>German researchers said that over 10 years, around 50 to 80 heart attacks, strokes and heart disease-related deaths per 1,000 patients could be averted if all doc...

Calcium and vitamin D may not cut cholesterol

2010-03-03T14:17:21Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People looking to improve their heart health by lowering their cholesterol levels won't find help from calcium and vitamin D supplements, according to a new study.</p><p>While claims have been made for a beneficial effect of calcium and vitamin D on cholesterol levels, supporting evidence is thin, the study's lead author, President Barack Obama will be saying "No, I won't" to dessert and high-fat foods after an annual check-up showed his LDL cholesterol level has crept up, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday.</p><p>"He would be also the first to tell you that he has probably had a few more cheeseburg...

Obama yet to kick smoking habit, should eat better

2010-02-28T12:00:21Z

<div id="subtitle">Checkup finds Obama `fit for duty,' but hasn't kicked smoking habit, should eat better</div><div><p>President Barack Obama hasn't kicked the smoking habit, takes anti-inflammatory medication to relieve chronic tendinitis in his left knee and should eat better to lower his cholesterol, his team of doctors concluded Sunday after the 48-year-old's first medical checkup as commander in chief.</p>...

Obama in great health but struggles with smoking

2010-02-28T11:30:13Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is in overall "excellent health" but still struggles with a smoking habit, his doctors said in a report after Obama had a routine medical exam on Sunday.</p><p>Obama, 48, visited the National Naval Medical Cen...

Facts and figures on Obama's physical

2010-02-28T10:30:14Z

<div><p>Facts and figures about President Barack Obama's health, from a physical examination Sunday at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Figures are compared with information from a January 2007 physical exam, which were released in May 2008 when Obama, then an

Diet changes improve older adults' cholesterol too

2010-02-22T08:15:00Z

&lt;div&gt;&lt;p&gt;NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older adults can cut their cholesterol levels by revamping their dietary fat intake, even if they are already on cholesterol-lowering statins, a new study finds.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Conventional wisdom holds that people should follow a healthful diet and get regular exercise to help control their cholesterol and triglyceri...

Genzyme, Isis say cholesterol drug met trial goal

2010-02-22T10:22:08Z

<div id="subtitle">Genzyme and Isis say mipomersen, which treats genetic cholesterol disease, succeeded in study</div><div><p>Genzyme Corp. and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday their cholesterol drug mipomersen met its goals in a study that tested the drug on patients with a genetic ...

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