title: Comparative efficacy of once-daily versus twice-daily pravastatin in primary hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: The efficacy of once-daily versus twice-daily dosing of pravastatin was determined in men with primary hypercholesterolemia. The same group of patients was used in the two studies. In the once-daily study, 18 patients took 20 mg of pravastatin at bedtime for four weeks and then 40 mg of pravastatin for an additional four weeks. In the twice-daily study, 22 patients took 10 mg or 20 mg of pravastatin twice daily for four weeks. Total cholesterol was reduced 18% in the 20-mg once-daily group, 20% in the 10-mg twice-daily group, 23% in the 40-mg once-daily group, and 24% in the 20-mg twice-daily group; the respective reductions in low-density cholesterol were 27%, 28%, 32%, and 34%. All these reductions were statistically significant; no between-group differences were significant. Pravastatin was well tolerated and no patients dropped out because of side effects.
authors.affiliation: Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Princeton, New Jersey.
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: DeVault
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brescia
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Willard
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D017035:Pravastatin