Document Detail


Lipid and transaminase concentrations after formulary conversion of Niaspan to Slo-Niacin.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21098376     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE: Lipid and transaminase levels after conversion from immediate-release niacin to extended-release niacin were evaluated.
METHODS: All patients who had their medications converted from Niaspan to Slo-Niacin between March 2008 and January 2009 were considered for evaluation. Subjects who took =2000 mg of Niaspan were automatically converted to Slo-Niacin in a 1:1 dosing ratio conversion. Mean aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and lipid values (low-density-lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, and triglyceride levels) during Niaspan therapy were compared with the means of these values obtained after at least 90 days of Slo-Niacin therapy. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank-order test and frequency distributions.
RESULTS: Of the 1172 patients who were identified as having had their Niaspan switched to Slo-Niacin after formulary conversion, 142 met the inclusion criteria for this study. The majority of the patients had a decrease or no change in AST (72.5%) and ALT (69%) levels after at least 90 days of Slo-Niacin therapy. None of the patients had transaminase levels greater than three times the upper limit of normal during Slo-Niacin therapy. Differences in AST, ALT, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol levels were not statistically significant between Niaspan and Slo-Niacin. On the other hand, patients' mean HDL cholesterol level was significantly greater with Slo-Niacin therapy than with Niaspan (42 mg/dL versus 40 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Formulary conversion from Niaspan to Slo-Niacin resulted in a small but significant increase in HDL cholesterol concentration and no significant change in ALT or AST level.
Authors:
Cristina Byrd; Kim A Mowrey
Related Documents :
16479026 - The role of lipid profile as a risk factor indicator for ischemic stroke at cipto mangu...
231466 - Cutaneous cholesterol and plasma lipoproteins in young subjects.
8310996 - Pyruvate supplementation of a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet: effects on plasma lipid co...
6957156 - Long-term use of gemfibrozil (lopid) in the treatment of dyslipidemia.
8876936 - Effect of fluvastatin or bezafibrate on the distribution of high density lipoprotein su...
12647966 - Effects of tallow in diets based on corn silage or alfalfa silage on digestion and nutr...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists     Volume:  67     ISSN:  1535-2900     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Health Syst Pharm     Publication Date:  2010 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-11-24     Completed Date:  2011-03-07     Revised Date:  2011-08-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9503023     Medline TA:  Am J Health Syst Pharm     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  2038-42     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
James A. Haley Veterans Affairs Hospital, 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard 119, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. cristina.byrd@va.gov
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Alanine Transaminase / blood,  drug effects
Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood,  drug effects
Cholesterol, HDL / blood,  drug effects
Cholesterol, LDL / blood,  drug effects
Delayed-Action Preparations
Dyslipidemias / drug therapy*
Formularies, Hospital
Humans
Hypolipidemic Agents / administration & dosage,  pharmacology*
Niacin / administration & dosage,  pharmacology*
Retrospective Studies
Statistics, Nonparametric
Time Factors
Triglycerides / blood
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Cholesterol, HDL; 0/Cholesterol, LDL; 0/Delayed-Action Preparations; 0/Hypolipidemic Agents; 0/Triglycerides; 59-67-6/Niacin; EC 2.6.1.1/Aspartate Aminotransferases; EC 2.6.1.2/Alanine Transaminase
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2011 Jul 15;68(14):1294, 1297   [PMID:  21719588 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Probable interaction between warfarin and bee pollen.
Next Document:  Use of blogs by pharmacists.