Private MD News

Prescription for popular cholesterol medication fall off amid efficacy concerns

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Despite the fact that many people continue to receive unhealthy cholesterol test results, fewer doctors are prescribing a particular medication to raise levels of HDL cholesterol, which is known to have beneficial effects, in the wake of a recent study that questioned the benefits of the drug.

The Chicago Tribune reports that officials from the pharmaceutical company Abbott are saying that prescriptions for Niaspan declined by 5 percent in the six weeks following the release of the study results. An investigation conducted by the National Institutes of Health found that the drug does little to prevent heart attacks in higher doses.

Following the release of the study results, the Food and Drug Administration warned doctors that they should take into consideration all the available evidence on the drug before prescribing it to any patients, though stopped short of removing the medication from the market.

It is very important for individuals to maintain a balance between HDL and unhealthy LDL cholesterol. The harmful form of fat can accumulate in the veins and cause blockages that can lead to heart attacks and strokes, but HDL sweeps the veins of these buildups, according the American Heart Association.