lovastatin vs vytorin

[ikee2130]

Reading the many comments I came across one that stated lovastatin is an old medicine and is not used often. After recent cath my doctor changed my medication from vytorin ,have taken vytorin for 5 years, to lovastatin. I did ask for a cheaper medicine and lovastatin was what he came with. I have no problems or side effects . My question is lovastatin less effective then other of the same and if not why is it not used often. My engineering background comes out if I d not have proper data.

Thanks

[skydnsr]

Sounds good.  Thanks for the update.

[ikee2130]

I thank you for your time and info. I am giving the new medication a chance .

[skydnsr]

I think lovastatin is still used a lot.  The drug companies always promote their newer, patented, more expensive drugs by saying they are more effective than the older drugs that are off patent and cheaper, so I tend to take that into account.  The manufacturer of a newer drug may quote research to support the promotional argument, but who pays for the research to be done?  Generally, it is the manufacturer of the drug that is being promoted.  

You can find out if lovastatin is effective for you by having your cholesterol tested after you have been on it for a while.  My mother has been on three different statins, and two of them reduced her cholesterol, and one did not.  Different statins are effective for different people.  It may turn out that lovastatin is just as effective for you as vytorin.  If not, you can always switch back to vytorin.  Or if you don't want to take a chance on the lovastatin, you can always go back to vytorin now.  

I don't know how long to tell you to try the lovastatin to find out if it works for you; you will have to ask your doc. I believe I would give the lovastatin a chance, if it were me.   Good luck.  I hope the cheaper medicine works for you.