Thursday, June 21, 2007
statins
* Statins are typically safe and well tolerated at standard doses and are metabolized in the liver. Those that are metabolized primarily by the cytochrome P-450 system can interact with other commonly prescribed drugs (itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, gemfibrozil, bezafibrate, fenofibrate, ciprofibrate, erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, nefazodone, verapamil, amiodarone, and HIV protease inhibitors) and regular ingestion of grapefruit juice.
* Myopathy typically occurs in fewer than 1 in 10,000 patients receiving standard statin doses, but this risk varies between statins and increases with use of higher doses and interacting drugs. Measurement of CK levels in patients with muscle pain can rule out myopathy and allow safe continuation of treatment. Both myopathy and rhabdomyolysis occur more often with higher statin doses and are reversed by stopping statin use, usually leading to full recovery.
* Myopathy typically occurs in fewer than 1 in 10,000 patients receiving standard statin doses, but this risk varies between statins and increases with use of higher doses and interacting drugs. Measurement of CK levels in patients with muscle pain can rule out myopathy and allow safe continuation of treatment. Both myopathy and rhabdomyolysis occur more often with higher statin doses and are reversed by stopping statin use, usually leading to full recovery.
# posted by roodbont @ 3:08 PM 
