Efficacy of alternate day versus daily dosing of rosuvastatin.
BACKGROUND
Compared with other statins, rosuvastatin has a relatively long half-life, which may allow for the administration of this medication on an alternate day basis.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of administering rosuvastatin on a daily basis versus on an alternate day basis for the treatment of dyslipidemia.


METHODS
In the present crossover study, 45 patients with documented hypercholesterolemia requiring pharmacotherapy were administered either 20 mg of rosuvastatin on alternate days or 10 mg of rosuvastatin daily for six weeks. After a four-week washout period, patients were then switched to the other regimen for another six weeks. The primary end point was the percentage reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).


RESULTS
LDL-C decreased by 48.5% versus 40.9% with daily and alternate day dosing, respectively. This represented an additional absolute reduction of LDL-C of 7.6% (95% CI 1.8% to 13.4%, P=0.012) with the daily dosing regimen. Both dosing regimens provided similar improvements in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with alternate day dosing, daily dosing of rosuvastatin provides a statistically significant advantage in LDL-C reduction. However, the alternate day regimen may be a viable option for those patients in whom cost is a limitation to compliance.
Dulay
Daisy
D
Division of Cardiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.
LaHaye
Stephen A
SA
Lahey
Karen A
KA
Day
Andrew G
AG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000187:drug effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000187:drug effects; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014280:Triglycerides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium