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2.12 Lipid-regulating drugs |
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Atorvastatin tablets 10mg, 20mg, 40mg, 80mg |
R |
Cardiology |
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Ezetimibe tablets 10mg |
R |
Lipid clinic |
|
Nicotinic acid m/r tablets (Niaspan) |
F |
|
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Omega-3-acid ethyl esters (Omacor) |
F |
|
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Pravastatin tablets 10mg, 20mg, 40mg |
F |
|
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Rosuvastatin 10mg, 20mg, 40mg |
R |
Cardiologists (See below) |
|
Simvastatin tablets 10mg, 20mg, 40mg |
F |
1st line |
In line with local PCT guidance, generic simvastatin should be used as initial treatment. Simvastatin 40mg daily costs just £4.87 per month.
Only simvastatin and pravastatin are licensed for secondary prevention.
Only act on cholesterol levels taken at an appropriate time
Local guidelines on use of statins may assist decisions about for whom and when to prescribe.
Rosuvastatin
Approved only for patients resistant to or intolerant of other statins.
Start at 10mg regardless of the previous statin dose, increasing to 20mg after not less than 4 weeks. An increase to 40mg should only occur in severe hypercholesterolaemia and under specialist supervision.
Patients of asian origin should receive a maximum dose of 20mg.