Effectiveness of low-dose lovastatin combined with low-dose colestipol in moderate to severe primary hypercholesterolaemia

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation Vol. 53; no. 5; p. 457
• Main Authors: Tonstad, S, Ose, L, Gørbitz, C, Harrison, E M, de Koning Gans, H J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-08-1993
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cholesterol - blood; Colestipol - administration & dosage; Colestipol - adverse effects; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Hypercholesterolemia - drug therapy; Lovastatin - administration & dosage; Lovastatin - adverse effects; Male; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 0036-5513
• DOI: 10.1080/00365519309092540

The effect of the combination of low-dose lovastatin and low-dose colestipol was studied among 57 subjects with moderate to severe primary hypercholesterolaemia (total cholesterol > or = 7.0 mmol l-1). Following an 8-week dietary phase, participants were randomized to treatment with 20 mg of lovastatin combined with 5 g or with 10 g of colestipol, or to matching placebo. Baseline total cholesterol was 7.7 +/- 0.9 mmol l-1 after dietary stabilization. Total cholesterol levels were reduced to 5.6 +/- 0.7 mmol l-1 and 5.8 +/- 0.7 mmol l-1 after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment in the lovastatin 5 g-1 colestipol group, and 74% of the subjects achieved the goal of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels of > or = 4.0 mmol l-1. Among the lovastatin 10 g-1 colestipol group, total cholesterol was reduced to 5.4 +/- 0.5 mmol l-1 and 5.5 +/- 0.9 mmol l-1 following 4 and 8 weeks, and 80% of subjects achieved the LDL cholesterol goal. No change was seen in the placebo group. Thus, low-dose combination therapy with lovastatin and colestipol, in conjunction with dietary treatment, is effective in moderate to severe primary hypercholesterolaemia, and is well tolerated.