Efficacy and safety of atorvastatin 10 mg every other day in hypercholesterolemia.
OBJECTIVE
The authors sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of atorvastatin administered every other day in patients with hypercholesterolemia.


BACKGROUND
Statins have efficacy in lowering cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular events but their cost is a major disadvantage. Atorvastatin is the most potent statin and has a long half-life. Therefore, atorvastatin given on alternate days may be reasonable and cost effective, particularly in hypercholesterolemia patients.


RESULTS
Sixty patients with hypercholesterolemia despite diet therapy were enrolled into the study. They received atorvastatin 10 mg every other day before bedtime. Duration of treatment was 8 weeks. A lipid profile was determined as baseline, at 4 weeks and again at 8 weeks. Atorvastatin every other day significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and LDL-c versus baseline. The TC, TG, and LDL-c levels were lower by 23 per cent, 8 per cent, and 30 per cent. Increase in HDL-c level was not statistically significant. Three patients had drug side effects. One patient had increased serum transaminase and one patient had increased serum muscle enzyme. The other one had somnolence.


CONCLUSIONS
In hypercholesterolemia patients, atorvastatin 10 mg every other day is safe and effective in lowering TC, TG, with LDL-c and a slight increase in HDL-c.
Department of Medicine, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
Chumpol
C
Piamsomboon
Prasart
P
Laothavorn
Sopon
S
Saguanwong
Boonsert
B
Chatlaong
Chanarong
C
Nasawadi
Pravit
P
Tanprasert
Kittika
K
Pongsiri
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin