The full results of a recent study on the benefits of the newer cholesterol lowering medications Zetia and Vytorin were released at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting in April and also published by The New England Journal of Medicine. Early findings from the study showed that Zetia and Vytorin, which combines the cholesterol drug Zetia with the statin drug Zocor, were no better than Zocor alone at slowing plaque buildup in high-risk patients.

Zetia works only by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the body, and while it is approved for lowering cholesterol, there is no evidence it prevents heart attacks and saves lives like statin drugs. According to guidelines from the ACC and the American Heart Association, Zetia should only be used when a patient can’t get their cholesterol down far enough with a statin medication.

Vytorin may be an option for patients who have tried other medications that have failed to lower their cholesterol.

In another study, it was found that the drugs, Zetia and Vytorin, are heavily marketed in the U.S. and are more expensive than rival generic medications. This study also found that Zetia and Vytorin are prescribed four times more often in the U.S. than in neighboring Canada where this type of direct to consumer advertising is banned.

In the artery study, doctors gave 720 patients, with a rare genetic condition that causes high cholesterol, either the Vytorin combination pill or just the Zocor. The arteries of patients on Zocor became 0.006 millimeters thicker, compared with 0.01 millimeters for Vytorin. In other words, the Vytorin users had slightly more plaque buildup in their arteries than Zocor users. The difference was so small and showed neither harm nor benefit.

What the study clearly showed was that when it comes to cholesterol lowering, it may be time to return to the basics – statin medications. Statins are a class of drugs that are used to lower cholesterol levels in people with cardiovascular disease or those at risk of cardiovascular disease. They work by preventing the body from producing cholesterol. Statins also benefit patients by reducing plaque buildup in the arteries reducing the risks of heart attack and stroke. Statins are among the most commonly prescribed drugs and include medications such as Zocor, Pravachol, Mevacor, Lipitor, Lescol, and Crestor.

Dr. Paul Ridker, a cardiologist at the Brigham and Woman’s Hospital in Boston, says “The questions patients with high cholesterol should ask their physician are simple: Will the drug you are giving me lower my risk of heart attack or stroke? If not, why are you prescribing it?”

If you’re taking Zetia of Vytorin, continue taking your medication and discuss any concerns with your doctor. Remember, lowering your bad cholesterol level is still one of the most important steps you can take to improve you heart health.

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