Will statins become OTC drugs?

Main Category: Statins
Article Date: 13 Jan 2005 - 14:00 PDT

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US regulatory staff said if patients took Mevacor (a statin - lowers your cholesterol levels) responsibly, they could benefit from getting it over-the-counter. The staff said the FDA advisory panel will have to decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks from patients who overdose.

Reviewers said the risks of toxicity of the muscle and liver are very rare. They believe the benefits could outweigh the risks (of having Mevacor as an OTC drug).

The advisory panel will now have weigh the risks and decide. The drug is generally taken over the long term.

The makers of Mevacor, Merck, wish to sell the statin as a 20 milligram dose over-the-counter.

According to Merck, most users would take the statin responsibly if it were OTC.