Private MD News

Expert says increasing availability of statins may not be such a good idea

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

For individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol tests, statin medications are one of the primary treatments for the dangerous cardiovascular condition. Now, some drug companies are trying to make over-the-counter statins available, but some advocacy groups are pushing back against this idea.

The patents on Lipitor and Zocor, the two most popular forms of statins, are set to expire this year. This has spurred speculation that the pharmaceutical companies behind these drugs may try to get over-the-counter formulations approved to make up for the lost profits. However, some say this could be dangerous.

Artin Vaqari, who founded the website All-About-Lowering-Cholesterol.com, said that statins still carry a modest risk of side effects, and individuals should try natural methods first.

"While some people may really need cholesterol lowering drugs, in many cases it may not be necessary since a patient may not have that high cholesterol levels, or simple changes in lifestyles may bring cholesterol under control," he said.

Vaqari added that allowing pharmaceutical companies to sell over-the-counter statins could lead to more people taking these medications instead of trying natural approaches first.