STATIN-CHOLESTROL LOWERING DRUG...

DO U THINK STATIN COMPLETELY PREVENTS THE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES???


  • Statins or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are class of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase,which plays a central role in the production of cholesterol in the liver.
  • Increased cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
  • Statins are therefore being used in prevention of diseases related to cardiovascular system.
  • But these drugs cannot give a complete cure to these diseases.
  • They can be taken only as a secondary prevention method.

SECONDARY PREVENTION:

  • Statins are effective in reducing the mortality rate of people with cardiovascular diseases.
  • On an average they lower the LDL level of cholesterol by 1.8mmol/l(70mg/dl) ie it produces a 60% decrease in the number of cardiac events like heart attack and stroke.  

CONDITIONS FOR WHICH STATINS ARE USED???


  • Statins are used for preventing and treating atherosclerosis that causes chest pain,heart attacks,stroke and in patients who have or are at the risk for atherosclerosis.
  • The risk factors for atherosclerosis includes:
  • abnormally elevated cholestrol levels 
  • hereditary or having a family history of heart attacks(particularly at a young age) 
  • diabetes.

AVAILABLE FORMS OF STATINS:




STATIN
BRAND NAME
METABOLISM
ATORVASTATIN
LIPITOR,BAYCOL,TORVAST LIPOBAY
CYP3A4
CERIVASTATIN
LESCOL
VARIOUS CYP3A4 ISOFORMS
FLUVASTATIN
XL
CYP2C9
LOVASTATIN
MEVACOR,ALTOCOR,ALTOPREV
CYP3A4
MEVASTATIN
COMPACTIN
CYP3A4
PITAVASTATIN
LIVALO,PIVATA
-
PRAVASTATIN
PRAVACHOL,LIPOSTAT
NON CYP
ROSUVASTATIN
CRESTOR
CYP2C9 AND CYPC19
SIMVASTATIN
ZOCOR,LIPEX
CYP3A4






 





 DIFFERENCES AMONG STATINS???
  • They differ from each other in several ways, the main difference is in their ability to reduce cholesterol i.e their potency.
  • Presently, Atorvastatin(Lipitor) and Rosuvastatin(Crestor) are the most potent whereas the Fluvastatin(Lescol) is the least potent.


ADVERSE EFFECTS:

 

  •  The statins also differ in how strong they interact with other drugs.
  • Specifically, Pravastatin(Pravachol) and Rosuvastatin(Crestor) levels are less likely to be elevated by the other drugs.
  • This is because the enzymes in liver that eliminate the above two drugs are not blocked effectively by these enzymes, hence the levels of these drugs increases which leads to toxicity such as myopathy(inflammation of the muscles).
  • Statins also differ in the frequency with which they cause a severe type of myopathy called Rhabdomyolysis, in which the muscles are severely been damaged.
  •  Recently, the drug Atorvastatin(Lipitor) which was withdrawn from market as it showed some signs of causing Rhabdomyolysis was recalled by the Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. 

 RANBAXY RECALLS GENERIC LIPITOR IN U.S.

                       [ Courtesy: The Hindu, 25th November,2012,Saturday]

SIDE EFFECTS:

 The common side effects are:
  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • constipation
  • diarrhea
  •  rash
  • weakness
  • muscle pain

 DRUG INTERACTIONS:

The first type of interactions include the enzymes responsible for the elimination of statins by the liver. Liver enzymes (specifically cytochrome P-450 liver enzymes) are responsible for the elimination of these enzymes with the exception of Pravastatin and Rosuvastatin.
Drugs that eliminate or block the elimination of the drugs are:
  •  protease inhibitors
  • erthromycin
  • itraconazole
  • clarithromycin
  • cyclosporin
  • verampil
  • grapefruit juice
 RECENT FACTS ABOUT STATIN:

  1. Out of the 100 persons taking he drug statin only below 5 of them are benefitted from the prevention of heart attack.
  2. Statindrugs do not increase the levels of HDL cholesterol. But can reduce the levels of both HDL and LDL at the same time, thereby increasing the chances of cardiovascular diseases.
  3.  For the prevention of first heart attack, Statin drug may not be helpful. And another fact is that it is not at all useful for treatment in women.
  4. There are many side effects of the drug.

CONCLUSION:

Statin drug can produce results of lowering the cholesterol level but if it is used properly.  We should try our maximium to reduce the levels of  LDL so that it is under control then the rest can be regulated with the help of the drug. By this way we can reduce the dose and side effects produced. For lowering the LDL levels changes must be brought in one's lifestyle. Exercise regularly. Together with all these we can reduce the risks of diseases associated with the cardiovascular system...

SO HAVE A HEALTHY HEART.....LIVE LONG.........  






Location: Maradu, Ernakulam, Kerala, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FUNGAL DISEASES- solution CLOTRIMAZOLE

Image
Fungal Diseases-Clotrimazole (A curing medicine)                                               But if misused severe problems arises..... Fungal diseases or itches are found in between fingers,toes and areas which are constantly prone to sweating such as in between legs, underarm,face, hair, nails etc. Clotrimazole cream Fungal diseases are more prone to attacks and lives because of the substance keratin. Keratin, as you all is present on our body,nails,hair etc. The medicine commonly used for fungal diseases are CLOTRIMAZOLE. It is available as ointment,creams,pessaries, drops etc according to the mode of the application or region to which it is applied. USAGE /FORMULATION: Clotr imazole ( Candid 1%) creams, lotions are all available. Clotrimazole L In women, fungal diseases may appear near vaginal region- for this Clotrimazole Vaginal cream otherwise Vaginal tablets are available.   Vaginal tablets ( Suppositories) along wi
Read more

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2019

Image
Every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide.   10 th October every year is celebrated as “World Mental Health Day” by the World Federation for Mental Health to raise the awareness on mental health education.  Theme for this year is: Mental Health promotion and suicide prevention . Suicidal behavior has increased gradually in all parts of the world and, in the past few decades, has reached alarming statistical levels.   This has turn to be the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds globally . Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind. Every year close to 800 000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. Another interesting fact is that, 79% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. 20% of people who suicide use pesticide self-poisoning as a way to end their life. ARE SUICIDES PREVENTABL
Read more

ZIKA VIRUS : 4 LAKHS PEOPLE AFFECTED

Image
Zika virus: i s a member of the  Flaviviridae  virus  family  and the  Flavivirus   genus . Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites.   The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are: Fever  Rash Joint pain Conjunctivitis (red eyes) The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. A mother already infected with Zika virus near the time of delivery can pass on the virus to her newborn around the time of birth, but this is rare. This leads to microcephaly. What is microcephaly? Microcephaly is condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than expected. During pregnancy, a baby’s head grows because the baby’s brain grows. Microcephaly can occur because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth, which results in a smaller head size. Microcephaly can be an isolated condition, meaning that it can occur with no other major birth defects, or it can occur in combinati
Read more