Think a pill that packs two cholesterol-lowering drugs in one potent package is a good idea? The Food and Drug Administration thinks so. It recently approved the combination of the popular statin drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) with another medication called Zetia (ezetimbe). But our medical advisers say the new product, Liptruzet, is too risky and too expensive.
A single Liptruzet pill runs $5.50, more than what a month's supply of some generic statins cost. But the combo pill hasn't been shown to be any better at preventing premature death or heart disease than a statin alone. And since it contains two drugs, it increases the risk of side effects.
Statin side effects include diabetes, memory problems, muscle soreness, and a rare condition that can cause kidney damage, kidney failure, and death. Adding ezetimibe to a statin tacks on the additional side effects of diarrhea, fatigue, joint pains, and severe muscle problems.
Marvin Lipman, M.D., Consumer Reports' chief medical adviser, says that the biggest beneficiary of the new drug the drug company that makes the medication. "Combining two drugs, one of which is available as a generic and the other a soon-to-be generic, to produce a new patentable product is a pharmaceutical company ploy that should have been transparent to the FDA," says Lipman. "This is especially so in view of the lack of evidence of long-term benefits in the new combination.
Our advice: If you need medication to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, first try a statin alone. Our Best Buy picks include several generic statins--atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin--depending on how much you need to reduce your cholesterol and whether you have heart problems or diabetes.
Take the lowest dose that reduces your LDL cholesterol to an acceptable "target" level, because higher doses pose a greater risk of serious side effects, such as muscle, kidney, and liver problems. If you experience muscle aches and pains when taking a statin, contact your doctor immediately.
