Comparative efficacy of once versus twice daily mevinolin in the therapy of familial hypercholesterolemia.

Abstract

Mevinolin, a competitive inhibitor of the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, is an effective hypocholesterolemic agent in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia when given in a twice-daily regimen. The present study compares the hypocholesterolemic effects of mevinolin given in a twice-daily dosage regimen with the same total dosage given either once in the morning or once in the evening in 12 patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Ten patients took a total daily dose of 40 mg of mevinolin and two took 20 mg. On the twice-daily dosage regimen, plasma concentrations of total cholesterol decreased 29.5% and 35.9% as compared with 21.4% and 26.9% with mevinolin given once in the morning and 27% and 32.2% with the drug given once in the evening. These values are all significantly different from baseline, but differences between the three treatment regimens do not reach statistical significance (P = 0.07 for the twice-daily versus once-in-the-morning dosage regimens). We conclude that once-daily administration of mevinolin, particularly in the evening, is an effective hypocholesterolemic regimen in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

• Authors: D R Illingworth
• Journal: Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (Clin Pharmacol Ther) Vol. 40 Issue 3 Pg. 338-43 (Sep 1986) ISSN: 0009-9236 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3638181 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Cholesterol, HDL
• Cholesterol, LDL
• Naphthalenes
• Triglycerides
• Cholesterol
• Lovastatin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Cholesterol (blood)
• Cholesterol, HDL (blood)
• Cholesterol, LDL (blood)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Heterozygote
• Humans
• Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II (drug therapy, genetics)
• Lovastatin
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Naphthalenes (administration & dosage)
• Triglycerides (blood)