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Improvement in sleep apnoea associated with switch from simvastatin to pravastatin
Stephanie Cham1, Komaldeep Gill, Sabrina Koperski
1University of California, San Diego, Department of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California, 92093-0995, USA.
Abstract:
Sleep problems have been reported as an adverse effect of statins. In a randomised trial, simvastatin at 20 mg produced significantly worse sleep quality than either placebo or pravastatin 40 mg. A possible relation to sleep apnoea was hypothesised. Here, the case of a 67-year-old man who experienced sleep apnoea on simvastatin 20 mg is presented. Objective nightly testing showed a prompt, marked, sustained and statistically significant improvement in the obstructive apnoea index when the patient switched to pravastatin 20 mg.
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