title: The outcome of very low dosages of simvastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: A retrospective study evaluated the success of dosages of simvastatin lower than the 10-20 mg/day recommended by the manufacturer in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Records of 95 patients enrolled in a pharmacist-managed lipid clinic receiving stable dosages of simvastatin were reviewed. Data collected were demographics, number of simvastatin refills, dosage distribution, baseline and posttreatment lipid profiles, and proportion of patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels below target as recommended by the National Cholesterol and Education Program. Dosages for 62% of patients were less than 20 mg/day. Percentages of patients at goal LDL were 98%, 89%, and 83% for patients taking 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/day, respectively. Patients taking 40 mg/day were least likely to be below the goal. There was an even distribution of patients taking each dosage. No statistical difference in compliance was noted among dosages based on prescription refills. Most patients taking less than the recommended initial dosage of the agent had satisfactory lipid control.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Prescott, Arizona 86313, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rindone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D019821:Simvastatin