Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
Published on: November 10, 2017
Alternate-day dosing with statins
Frank I Marcus1, Adam J Baumgarten, William L Fritz
1Sarver Heart Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. fmarcus@email.arizona.edu
Abstract:
The duration of the cholesterol-lowering effect of statins is considerably longer than the duration of the pharmacokinetic half-life of these drugs. The long duration of pharmacologic effects provides the rational for the efficacy of intermittent dosing that provides nearly the equivalent low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction compared with daily dosing. Review of studies comparing alternate-day dosing with daily dosing of statins indicates that the magnitude of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction with alternate-day dosing is nearly the same, with obvious cost savings. It is possible that the adverse effects of statins, such as myalgia or diabetes, may be related to the cumulative amount of drug ingested over time, and if so, the adverse effects may be decreased by alternate-day dosing.
Related Concept Videos
Dosage Regimen: Fixed Dose
Fixed-dose regimens can be used for various routes of administration, including intravenous (IV) injections and oral medications. For IV administration, a predetermined amount of the drug is...
Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents
Dosage Regimen: Multiple Oral Dosage
Rational Dosage Regimen: Maintenance Dose and Loading Dose
In most cases, drugs are administered repetitively or infused continuously to maintain a steady-state concentration in the body. At a steady state,...
Dosage Regimens: Partial Pharmacokinetic Parameters
Drug Dosage Regimen: Overview
Typically, the starting dose and dosing interval are guided by the manufacturer's recommendations based on clinical trials conducted during and after drug...