MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'cholesterol drugs'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:58:36 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1833261&cid=t_116647_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F403067482%2F This Medco analysis implies that the perceived therapeutic benefit of generics over brand name in the minds of patients may not be that significant as earlier thought. The analysis also reveals that reaching the Coverage Gap dramatically stimulates the use of generics among all Medicare recipients. During the initial phase of the benefit, when the plan provides drug coverage, one-third of the medications used daily by beneficiaries were generics and two-thirds were brand-name drugs. Once beneficiaries reached the Gap and were responsible for the full cost of the drug, those numbers flip - generic usage rises to 71 percent and brand-name use falls to 29 percent. What other factors could be playing a role and how do we counteract it? Reference: Medco, ACP Internist addthis_url = 'http%3... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833261 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:30:36 +0100 1833261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1754769&cid=t_116647_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F381836034%2F In a new article released online (ahead of print) in the New England Journal of Medicine (SEAS Trial), Schering-Plough’s “would be” blockbuster drug ezitimibe (Zetia) has again not only fallen short of it’s expectations, but now may also be linked with increased cancer risk. In patients taking Vytorin (simvastatin + ezitimibe) there was an increased number of cancers (no particular type) when it was given to try to prevent aortic stenosis (thickening of a valve located in the blood outflow tract in the heart). Aortic stenosis in elderly is related to atherosclerosis and has many of the same risk factors as for heart attacks. This trial was therefore designed to see if Vytorin could prevent/delay development of aortic stenosis. Unfortunately, Vytorin fell short in th... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1754769 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:04:02 +0100 1754769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1140032&cid=t_116647_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F213770352%2F Statins may cut the risk of developing cancer by as much as 25 percent, according to research reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Veterans taking statin drugs had a 9.4 percent cancer incidence, compared to 13.2 percent for non-statin users. “Our findings support the hypothesis that statins may reduce the risk of cancer, in particular lung and colorectal cancers,” Wildon Farwell of the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, who led the study, tells Reuters. “The risk reduction appeared to be around 25 percent.” For their study, Farwell and colleagues looked at the health records of nearly 63,000 veterans in the Veteran Affairs New England Healthcare System between January 1997 and December 2005. The veterans were divided into groups that h... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1140032 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:00:23 +0100 1140032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=587882&cid=t_116647_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F03%2Ftoo-much-insulin-could-lead-to-heart-disease%2F Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Drugs, Research, Daily NewsResearchers defined a link between high insulin levels and defective lipid metabolism but the cause may not be exactly what you think. According to a study published in June, 2005 -- this could be due to their choice in blood sugar lowering medication. The conclusion of the study identified obese insulin-resistant subjects taking metformin (brand names Glucophage, Diabex, Diaformin, Fortamet, Riomet, Glumetza) and rosiglitazone both improve insulin sensitivity (increase insulin production) but DO NOT improve lipid metabolism. Rosiglitazone (brand name Avandia) may have a detrimental effect on chylomicron metabolism Blood vessels of insulin-resistant rats build up a substance called chylomicron cholesterol following a ... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=587882 Thu, 03 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 587882