The FDA has recently granted marketing clearance to several new medications.

New Agent for Cholesterol Reduction

Ezetimibe/simvastatin (Vytorin) recently became available for the treatment of high LDL cholesterol levels, as adjunctive therapy to dietary modification, in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed hyperlipidemia. This drug, from Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, inhibits the production of cholesterol in the liver and blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the GI tract, including cholesterol obtained from food.

The recommended starting dosage is 10 mg ezetimibe/20 mg simvastatin once a day. Limit the maximum dosage to 10/10 mg daily for patients taking cyclosporine and 10/20 mg daily for patients taking amiodarone or verapamil.

The most common side effects are headache, upper respiratory tract infection, myalgia, influenza, and extremity pain. Advise patients to report muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to a health care provider promptly. This agent should be discontinued if myopathy is reported.