Submitted by Armen Hareyan on Mar 31st, 2008
Zetia does effectively lower bad cholesterol, but the statin is really what lowers your risks for heart disease. Since statins also lower bad cholesterol, there is really no need to take Zetia or Vytorin made by Merck.
On Good Morning America today they ran a health segment on a study of Zetia and Vytorin that was just released. Zetia, which can be taken alone, or combined with a statin (Zetia+Statin= Vytorin) is marketed as being able to reduce bad cholesterol and the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart-related death.
The study, which compared the effects of Zetia to the effects of just taking the statin, concluded that Zetia does effectively lower bad cholesterol, but the statin is really what lowers your risks for heart disease. Since statins also lower bad cholesterol, there is really no need to take Zetia or Vytorin. This new data shows that $5 billion was wasted last year to purchase these 2 unnecessary drugs.
From the Editor: In a blog Lost On a Floor the blogger nurse has some interesting insights on how does the ENHANCE trial that was published this week is related to Vytorin and how does it matter to an average person.
"It matter for several reasons. This trial was supposed to prove that Vytorin was a better drug than simvastatin for the treatment of high cholesterol. Vytorin was going to be a new cash cow for Merck, cashing in on the same fears of baby-boomers that Lipitor has plundered over the years. I mean why not, Vytorin is only $289.96 at Drugstore.com for a 90 day supply. Compare that to lovastain (Mevacor) where a 90 day supply would be $12 at Walmart. Now I know that comparing drugs are almost like apples and oranges, but this is big money. Lipitor is on going generic, simvastatin already is, the companies "need to have high prices to fund research." No, they need high prices to fund Dr. Jarvik's wonderful commercials.
"I am all for new meds, but shouldn't there be priorities? I mean really, do we need another drug for erectile dysfunction? (The stories my friend who works at VA urology clinic spins...) Reducing cholesterol is a good thing too, decreases heart attacks and all the assorted nastiness that goes along with heart failure. But isn't just giving a pill and easy out? What about diet? What about exercise? What about personal responsibility for one's own health? Naw, we'd rather take a pill."
Source:
Jess's Current Issues Blog 
Comments
#1 Zetia
I had a triple bypass 12 years ago. I can not take stains and only ended up in the hospital when I was put on them. Different types of statins were tried and as soon as I started to have problems I had to stop taking them, (Doctors just don't give up). I can take zetia with no problem and it does lower my chlorestol but now my perscription plan thru Humana (the goverment who looks after us) has stop me from getting them. If you say is true that zetia does not help me, can you guarantee it will not effect my health if stop taking zetia?
Also, I can get a 3 months supply of zetia from Canada for the same price as one months supply in the US. by using their generic brand which for some reason isn't avalible here.
Do you recomend me to stop taking Zetia? This is very important to me because your decision here may effect my health. My doctor wants me to continue with them but I'm not going to pay out money for something that isn't going to help me.
Thank you,
Angelo DeBona