[A comparison between lovastatin and pravastatin--effects on lipids, sleep and quality of life in primary hyperlipidemia]

The efficacy and safety of treatment with recommended doses of lovastatin (20, 40 and 80 mg/day) and pravastatin (10, 20 and 40 mg/day) were compared in 48 men and women with primary hyperlipidemia and LDL-cholesterol > or = 4.1 mmol/l following dietary intervention. Each dose was taken for six weeks in this double-blind, parallel, randomized study. Lovastatin was found to reduce LDL-cholesterol by 22-37% and pravastatin by 18-26%. HDL-cholesterol levels increased and triglyceride levels decreased to the same extent in both groups. The number of patients who reported adverse events in the course of the study was small. No clinically significant changes occurred in laboratory tests, nor in sleep scores obtained from a standardized questionnaire. Neither drug had any effect on the responses to a quality of life screening questionnaire, nor were any significant changes in depressive symptoms seen during the 18 weeks of treatment.