"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
A novel cholesterol medication taken by injection, Praluent uses a new method to remove cholesterol when traditional statins are not able to achieve the desired level of cholesterol or when statins are not tolerated. The exact patients who will benefit most from this medication are not clearcut at this time, but certainly patients who have …
Wee Willie Keeler of the Baltimore Orioles had it right…..when he said to ‘Hit’em where they ain’t’; and now the official advice from the US Department of Health is that cholesterol in the diet is not a problem. Don’t get confused….cholesterol is still a concern, it’s just that most cholesterol (80+%) is made by your …
Read More “HIT’EM WHERE THEY AIN’T….CHOLESTEROL IS NOW ‘OK’ IN THE DIET”
An injectable cholesterol medication, known as PCSK9 inhibitors, are emerging as an effective treatment for those who cannot tolerate statins like Lipitor, or who cannot achieve goal levels of cholesterol with standard medication. A spate of new studies published at the American College of Cardiology meetings show that these forms of medication are safe, effective …
Read More “MORE ENCOURAGING NEWS FOR NOVEL CHOLESTEROL MEDICATION”
Statins (Lipitor, Crestor & others) are effective, safe, and have been shown to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Now, a new competitor is potentially coming to market, as it continues to show promise in lowering bad (LDL) cholesterol by 50-66%. This group of medications are called anti-PSCK9 agents & include Amgen’s evolocumab, alirocumab from Sanofi …
The latest guidelines for cholesterol treatment have been changed once again, and this time in good direction. Rather than focusing on ‘goal numbers’ the the measure of success, the newest guidelines for cholesterol treatment take a more moderate approach, and focus on getting the ‘right’ people on medication and lowering their cholesterol effectively, if not …
I hear from patients that they have concerns that statins (cholesterol lowering medication like Lipitor, Zocor, etc…) can cause memory loss and that they have read this in the paper. This question has been raised at times and the information is mixed. On one hand, as a strong medication to prevent stroke, it is thought …
Statin medications have had a profound effect on heart disease across the world, but there are a variety of limitations with these medications including lack of effect, side effects, and inadequate results in patients at highest risk (inability to achieve ‘goal’ levels of cholesterol.) Enter a new treatment, a medication that is a ‘biological agent’, …
Read More “NEW ‘SUPER CHOLESTEROL REDUCING’ MEDICATION IS COMING…AND IT WILL REQUIRE A SHOT”
Hi Dr. Lakin– I’m forwarding this message because it speaks to an issue that has concerned me for some time. I have been working out consistently, lifting weights and stretching twice a week, walking or bicycling twice a week and doing yoga twice per week, for several years now, and have felt that I was …
More and more medications are being manufactured in India and these are produced safely and without concern. This week, the LA TIMES reported that there is a recall of bottles of Lipitor 20 and 40mg tablets manufactured by Ranbaxy. The reason for recall is small particles of glass in the medications (which is a reason …
A large Danish study demonstrates a reduced cancer risk in people on statin medications like Lipitor. This good news should be interpreted with some caution as study does have some limitations, but the fact that the medication did not show an increase risk of cancer issues is great news for those millions of us on …