Colesevelam HCl and ezetimibe combination therapy provides effective lipid-lowering in difficult-to-treat patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Author(s): Zema MJ
Affiliation(s): Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center, Patchogue, New York 11772, USA. mzema@bmhmc.org
Publication date & source: 2005-07, Am J Ther., 12(4):306-10.
Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial
This study investigated the effects of colesevelam hydrochloride (WelChol; Sankyo Pharma, Parsippany, NJ) and ezetimibe (Zetia; Merck/Schering Plough Pharmaceuticals, North Wales, PA), alone and in combination, for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in patients who were intolerant to, or refused, HMG-Co-A reductase inhibitor (statin) therapy. Combination therapy with colesevelam HCl/ezetimibe resulted in an additional reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels of approximately 20% (P < 0.005) and 16% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared with monotherapy with either agent. Total cholesterol, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C levels were within National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III target ranges at the end of the combination therapy regimen in 10 of 12 patients. In conclusion, colesevelam HCl/ezetimibe combination therapy appears to be an efficacious and well-tolerated alternative for patients with hypercholesterolemia.
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