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Published on: November 17, 2018

Efficacy of alternate-day versus everyday dosing of atorvastatin

Sushobhan Pramanik1, Asoke Kumar Das, Milan Chakrabarty

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. sushobhan.pramanik@gmail.com

Indian Journal of Pharmacology
|June 16, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Alternate-day atorvastatin dosing is as effective and safe as daily dosing for hyperlipidemia. This provides a comparable, cost-effective treatment option for managing cholesterol levels.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology and Therapeutics
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Lipid Metabolism

Background:

  • Atorvastatin, a hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, exhibits a prolonged duration of action.
  • Hyperlipidemia management often involves statin therapy, with atorvastatin being a commonly prescribed option.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy and safety of alternate-day versus daily dosing of atorvastatin.
  • To evaluate atorvastatin's effectiveness in treating hyperlipidemia under different dosing frequencies.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, open-label, crossover study involving 40 hyperlipidemia patients.
  • Patients received 20 mg atorvastatin either daily or on alternate days for 12 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout and then the alternative regimen.
  • Plasma lipid profiles (LDL-C, TC) and liver enzymes (ALT, AST) were monitored throughout the study.

Main Results:

  • Both daily and alternate-day atorvastatin regimens significantly reduced LDL-C and TC compared to baseline.
  • No statistically significant differences in LDL-C and TC reduction were observed between the two dosing groups at 6 and 12 weeks.
  • Both treatment regimens were well-tolerated by patients.

Conclusions:

  • Alternate-day atorvastatin dosing is a viable and effective alternative to daily administration for hyperlipidemia.
  • This dosing strategy offers comparable efficacy and safety, presenting a potentially more cost-effective treatment option.
Abstract

Keywords:
Atorvastatinalternative dosing regimenhyperlipidemia

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