Document Detail


Nicotinic acid: new/old drug. Immediate or sustained release: too risky for a drug with no proven benefit.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17165243     Owner:  HSR     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
(1) For patients with hypercholesterolaemia requiring primary or secondary prevention, pravastatin, simvastatin and atorvastatin have a proven benefit in terms of mortality and/or morbidity. Gemfibrozil and cholestyramine have a proven impact on morbidity. (2) The lipid-lowering properties of immediate-release nicotinic acid have been known for about 50 years, as have its frequent and sometimes severe adverse effects. About 70% of patients experience cutaneous flushing, and 20-30% develop gastrointestinal adverse effects. Hepatotoxic effects occur in about 2% of patients, especially in those using high daily doses or sustained-release formulations. (3) The clinical evaluation of immediate-release nicotinic acid is mainly based on two comparative placebo-controlled trials. One, involving 5000 patients monitored on average for 15 years, showed no effect on survival. One trial suggested that immediate-release nicotinic acid reduced the risk of recurrent myocardial infarction. (4) Sustained-release nicotinic acid has not been evaluated in terms of its effect on morbidity or mortality. It has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and to raise the HDL cholesterol level. (5) This new pharmaceutical formulation has a profile and frequency of known adverse effects similar to those of immediate-release nicotinic acid. (6) When hypercholesterolaemia persists despite an appropriate diet, it is best to use one drug with a proven preventive impact on mortality and/or morbidity. This is not the case for sustained-release nicotinic acid. (7) When statin therapy is inadequate, it remains to be shown whether adding another cholesterol-lowering drug is beneficial in terms of morbidity and mortality. If, in rare cases, combination with a statin is envisaged, it is best to use gemfibrozil or cholestyramine. Note that gemfibrozil should only be combined with a statin with the greatest caution.
Authors:
-
Related Documents :
9707233 - Pharyngeal acid reflux events in patients with vocal cord nodules.
4586863 - Inhibition of cathepsin d-type proteinase of macrophages by pepstatin, a specific pepsi...
2440153 - Use of tannic acid for the ultrastructural visualization of periplasm in gram-negative ...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Prescrire international     Volume:  15     ISSN:  1167-7422     ISO Abbreviation:  Prescrire Int     Publication Date:  2006 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-12-13     Completed Date:  2006-12-27     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9439295     Medline TA:  Prescrire Int     Country:  France    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  213-6     Citation Subset:  T    
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Anticholesteremic Agents / administration & dosage,  adverse effects,  therapeutic use
Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Drug Therapy, Combination
France
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / administration & dosage,  adverse effects,  therapeutic use
Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy*
Lipoproteins, HDL / drug effects
Lipoproteins, LDL / drug effects
Nicotinic Acids / administration & dosage,  adverse effects,  therapeutic use*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Treatment Outcome
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anticholesteremic Agents; 0/Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; 0/Lipoproteins, HDL; 0/Lipoproteins, LDL; 0/Nicotinic Acids

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


Previous Document:  Altruism, motivation, and allocation: giving and using human organs.
Next Document:  Dentoskeletal and soft-tissue changes in growing class II malocclusion patients during nonextraction...