FIBRATE, FENOFIBRATE USE INCREASING IN US DESPITE EVIDENCE THEY PROVIDE LITTLE BENEFIT

The Los Angeles Times (3/22, Maugh) "Booster Shots" blog reported that "the use of fibrates and fenofibrates to reduce cholesterol levels has grown sharply in the United States over the past decade, despite mounting evidence that the drugs provide little benefit," according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study also found that "physicians are increasingly prescribing brand-name versions of the drugs, such as TriCor and Trilipix, despite the fact that published evidence so far shows a benefit only for generic forms of the drugs, such as gemfibrozil." HeartWire (3/22, O'Riordan), HealthDay (3/22, Goodwin), and MedPage Today (3/22, Gever) also covered the story. For a clinical perspective on this article, go to CardioSource.org.

Posted by Steven Almany M.D.