title: Comparative effects of simvastatin and lovastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia. The Simvastatin and Lovastatin Multicenter Study Participants.
abstract: The efficacy, safety profile, and tolerability of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors simvastatin and lovastatin were compared in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind study in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia. Commonly prescribed doses of these two drugs were used by 544 men and women, who followed an American Heart Association phase I diet during a 6-week baseline period and for the 24 weeks of active treatment. Simvastatin 10 mg and lovastatin 20 mg produced statistically significant reductions in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Patients receiving simvastatin 10 mg once daily and lovastatin 20 mg once daily experienced similar reductions in LDL-C and total cholesterol; however, simvastatin 20 mg was statistically superior to lovastatin 40 mg in decreasing these lipid fractions. For all treatment groups, increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were inversely related to baseline levels. Moderate decreases in triglycerides occurred with all doses. Lipoprotein(a) levels, measured in a subset of patients, were similar before and after treatment. Both drugs were well tolerated.
authors: Department of Medicine, Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Farmer
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: Washington
authors: P H
authors: PH
authors: Jones
authors: D R
authors: DR
authors: Shapiro
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Gotto
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Mantell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin