title: The efficacy and six-week tolerability of simvastatin 80 and 160 mg/day.
abstract: The hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor simvastatin is the most effective of the currently approved hypolipidemic drugs and has been shown to reduce mortality and coronary morbidity in patients with coronary artery disease. For these patients the United States National Cholesterol Education Program advocates reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to <100 mg/dl. However, in some patients this cannot be achieved using monotherapy with simvastatin 40 mg/day, the current maximal recommended dose. To evaluate the effectiveness of extending the dosage range, 156 subjects with LDL cholesterol >160 mg/dl and triglycerides (TG) <350 mg/dl were randomized to simvastatin at doses of 40, 80, and 160 mg/day in a 26 week, double-blind, 3-period, complete block crossover study. Each active treatment period was 6 weeks in duration with intervening 2 week washout periods. Median reductions from baseline in LDL cholesterol were 41%, 47%, and 53% in the 40-, 80-, and 160-mg groups, respectively. The corresponding reductions in plasma TG were 21%, 23%, and 33%. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased by 6% to 8% in each group. One patient (0.7%) taking 160 mg developed myopathy; 1 patient (0.7%) taking 80 mg, and 3 (2.1%) taking 160 mg had transaminase elevations > 3 times the upper limit of normal. No new or unexpected adverse effects were observed. We conclude that simvastatin at doses of 80 and 160 mg/day provides additional efficacy with a low short-term incidence of adverse effects; our results support the continued investigation of simvastatin at these doses.
authors.affiliation: Chicago Center for Clinical Research, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dujovne
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hunninghake
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Knopp
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Illingworth
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Mitchel
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Melino
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Zupkis
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dobrinska
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tobert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin