Vytorin

Vytorin is commonly prescribed to lower levels. However, recent studies call into question the drug’s effectiveness and even indicate risk of serious side effects.

What is Vytorin?

Manufactured by & Co. and Schering-Plough, Vytorin is a combination of simvastatin (also sold as ’s ) and ezetimibe (Schering-Plough’s Zetia). These drugs are commonly prescribed to patients who are unable to control their levels through diet and exercise.

is a “statin” drug. Statins are one class of many drugs used to lower the level of in the blood by reducing the production of “bad” by the liver. This helps lessen the buildup of arterial plaque that can lead to coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral artery disease.

However, statins have been found to carry a risk of side effects including liver and muscle damage. Additional studies found that combining Zetia with , as in Vytorin, can increase the risk of liver damage or disease.

People taking Vytorin may develop liver problems such as Hepatitis, Cirrhosis and even liver failure.

Effectiveness questioned

Despite the risk for possible liver problems, patients continued to take Vytorin because of perceived greater benefits that outweighed these concerns. Then, in February 2008 the results of the ENHANCE study, which was conducted by the drug manufacturers, revealed Vytorin had no significant benefit over taking simvastatin alone – a much less expensive option.

In fact, the ENHANCE study showed that patients taking Vytorin actually had more plaque buildup than patients taking simvastatin alone.[1]

Worse, it was suspected the drug makers delayed releasing results of the ENHANCE study for nearly two years in order to protect sales of their Vytorin product. The study was completed in April 2006, but results – and those only partial – were not released until a congressional inquiry forced the matter and the company relented in January 2008.[2]

Vytorin and Zetia together brought in $5.1 billion in sales in 2007, up from $3.8 billion in 2006.

Do you have a Vytorin claim?

If you or your loved one has suffered a serious injury or as a result of Vytorin, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, and pain and suffering.

Please contact our vytorin lawyers today by filling out the brief questionnaire, or by calling our toll free number (1-800-898-2034) for a free, no-cost, no-obligation legal evaluation of your case.

Latest News

Vytorin No. 3 on list of Top 10 medical stories of 2008

Vytorin has come in at the No. 3 spot on a list of the Top 10 Medical Stories of 2008 - and not in a good way. Dr. Kate Scannell, columnist for the Contra Costa Times, which serves the California Bay Area, listed the drug under the header “statin madness.”

Dr. Scannell said the drug made her list as a result of two studies that revealed Vytorin, which is a combination of simvastatin () and ezetimibe (), did not reduce artery-clogging plaque buildup, although tests showed it reduced “bad” cholesterol levels.

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Vytorin illustrates the problems of direct-to-consumer advertising

Remember those Vytorin commercials with the split screen, comparing people to food? Aunt Barbara on the left and some tacos on the right? Mildly entertaining though they were, those ads underscore a big problem with the promotion of new pharmaceuticals. Evidence suggests that Vytorin’s manufacturers, and Schering-Plough, promoted and sold the anti-cholesterol drug for nearly 2 years despite known clinical trial results that strongly suggested Vytorin to be no more effective than cheap, generic statin drugs.

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Have Vytorin’s falling sales finally stabilized?

vytorin box 100x100For a while it seemed as if sales of Merck’s blockbuster anti-cholesterol drug Vytorin would plummet into oblivion. Unfavorable and botched trial results, harrowing trial results, lawsuits filed on behalf of individuals and government, congressional inquiries, and so on plagued Merck and co-creator because it looked as if Vytorin was at best a dud and at worst a cancer-inducing danger.

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