Study on Merck Pill Zetia Raises New Questions
A new study raises new concerns about Zetia and Vytorin, drugs taken by millions of Americans to lower cholesterol. According to an article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, Zetia failed to shrink buildups in artery walls while a rival drug, Niaspan, did so significantly. Zetia users also suffered more heart attacks and other problems although the numbers of these events were too small to draw firm conclusions.
A preventive cardiology chief at Johns Hopkins University said that in the seven years Zetia has been on the market, it hasn’t proven that it improves clinical outcomes.
Lipitor and Crestor (statins) have long been used to lower LDL, or bad cholesterol, and are known to cut the risk of heart problems. Because many statin users still suffer heart attacks, doctors have been testing adding a second medicine to further lower risk.
They are trying Niaspan, a slow-release version of niacin, a type of B vitamin that raises HDL, or good cholesterol. The other is Zetia, which lowers bad cholesterol in a different way than statins do, by blocking its absorption in the gut.
Vytorin is a pill that combines Zetia with a statin.
Abbott Laboratories sponsored the new study in which researchers enrolled 363 people with heart disease or a high risk for it who had been taking statins for six years on average.
Half were given Niaspan and the others, Zetia. Ultrasound images of neck arteries showed that Niaspan shrank buildups by about 2 percent, while Zetia had no effect on this even though it lowered bad cholesterol as expected.
There were two heart attacks, heart-related deaths or other heart-related problems in the 160 people given Niaspan, and nine among the 165 on Zetia.
This raised the concern that its effects are not fully understood and it should be better for the arteries.
Merck stands behind the safety of this drug.
People of all ages take prescription drugs, non- prescription drugs, and supplements on a daily basis in the United States to prevent and treat various illnesses. Although these medications are supposed to help people, many people have suffered serious side effects, and even death.
If a manufacturer produces drugs or supplements that are defective, they can and should be held responsible for the injuries they cause. As a manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, the company has an obligation to make a safe product, which includes various aspects such as thoroughly inspecting the product and affixing an appropriate label on the packaging. It is extremely important that you hire a skilled Philadelphia drug injury attorney to prove that the manufacturer was responsible for producing a defective product, as this is a very complicated and difficult part of the case. It is essential to have representation on your side that has extensive experience representing people in similar matters. If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a dangerous drug reaction in Pennsylvania, contact Cherry Fieger and Marciano, today for a free consultation.
Source report: http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/features/health/20091116_ap_studyraisesnewquestionsaboutmerckpillzetia.html
