Baycol
Information
Baycol
(cerivastatin sodium tablets) is a cholesterol and triglyceride-lowering
drug that was marketed as a way to lower the incidence
of heart attack. Baycol is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor,
a drug that blocks a certain enzyme in the body. When this enzyme is blocked, the body does not produce
as much cholesterol and fatty substances.
Baycol
was prescribed by doctors to individuals who
suffered from high cholesterol levels. Baycol was to
be used along with a proper diet to reduce LDL
(lipoprotein substance that acts as a carrier
for cholesterol and fats in the bloodstream. Low LDL
is a good thing.) Baycol also interacted in the body to raise HDL,
the good cholesterol. HDL has been found to lower
the risk of heart disease.
Patients
who took Baycol often had primary hypercholesterolemia,
or too much cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream.
The cause of this condition is often too high an intake
of foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
The condition can also be genetic in nature.
Baycol
was initially available at dosages of 0.2 and 0.3 mg.
In 1999, the FDA approved a higher 0.4 mg dosage. In
this same year, Bayer also stated that Baycol received
expanded indications to reduce triglycerides (TG) and
apolipoprotein B (apo B) in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia
and mixed dyslipidemia. Then, in 2000, a 0.8 mg dosage
strength was approved.
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Statin
Class of Drugs
Baycol
was approved in 1998 as one of the statin class of drugs.
Statins block one of the liver enzymes
that causes cholesterol. In certain instances and for
small populations of users, statins can cause a condition
known as Rhabdomyolysis, a serious disease in which
myoglobin enters the bloodstream and can cause kidney
failure. While Rhabdomyolysis is a condition to
be wary of, it is only fatal in a very small percentage
of cases. As of 08/2001, there have not been any fatalities
linked to other statins beside Baycol (cervistatin).
Statins
are prescribed to some 8 million Americans and have
proven effective in lowering cholesterol levels. This
class of drugs is a thriving slice of the drug industry,
with experts predicting sales to reach the $25 billion
mark by the year 2005. Within the statin class of drugs,
Baycol had but a small part of the market, which is
dominated by Zocor and Lipitor.
Other
Available Statins
(The
first word is the name under which the drug is marketed.
The second is the drug name.)
- Zocor
(Simvastatin)
- Lescol
(Fluvastatin)
- Pravachol
(Pravastatin)
- Mevacor
(Lovastatin)
- Lipitor (Atorvastatin)
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