[An alternative in the therapy of primary hyperlipemias: etofibrate in depot preparations]

In a randomised blind study with 404 patients 1 capsule Etofibrate per day (500 mg) in sustained release dosage form was tested in comparison to other lipid-lowering drugs. The trial extended to eight weeks and was performed in eight clinics and in four practices for internal medicine. Serum-cholesterol and serum-triglycerides were controlled at the beginning and at the end of the observation period. The result was a significant decrease of the cholesterol-level up to 22% and a decrease of the triglyceride-level up to 43%. Also the patients pretreated with other drugs showed a furthermore improvement of the former therapy. Side effects were very rare and it was never necessary to stop the treatment.