Merck Pill Zetia May Carry Risks

Millions of Americans take Zetia and Vytorin to lower cholesterol, despite concerns raised last year about how well they work. A study presented this Sunday determined that Zetia failed to shrink buildups in artery walls while a comparable drug, Niaspan, succeeded. Dr. Roger Blumenthal and colleagues reported that Zetia users also experienced more heart attacks, although a more conclusive work needs to be done.

The study included 363 people with heart disease or a high risk of it who had been taking statins for six years on average. Half were given Niaspan, while the other half received Zetia. Researchers stopped the study after 14 months, after discovering that one group was doing much better than the other. There were nine major adverse events in the Zetia group of patients (5 percent) as compared to two with Niaspan (1 percent). Merck, the maker of Zetia, is currently conducting a large study in order to prove that the drug effectively prevents heart attacks and strokes.

Health authorities are cautioning that the study is too limited to warrant any medication changes. Make sure to check with a doctor before altering or stopping heart medicine.

AUTHOR: Annette Hulbert