At best, the consumer is provided with and reads an extremely pared down version of the DPI. It is vital that everyone should read the entire DPI, whether you understand all the jargon or not. You can print any of the documents below. Your pharmacist should be able to answer very technical questions and would be a good impartial source.

DPI's Updated 09/04/10 - Please consult the drug manufacturer's website for the most current information.

Zocor updated 3/20/2010 due to FDA warning re: higher dosage increases risk of muscle damage. "Patients should be advised to report promptly any symptoms of myopathy (muscle pain). Simvastatin therapy should be discontinued immediately if myopathy is diagnosed or suspected."

Click on BOLD text above/below description to display article in a separate screen

NOTE: When you display FDA Medwatch DPI links,  changes are
HIGHLIGHTED in YELLOW.

Advicor by KOS Pharmaceuticals
Niacin Extended-Release & Lovastatin ~ Reduces LDL cholesterol & triglycerides, raises HDL ~ May cause an increase in blood sugar levels (caution for diabetics) ~
Revised: August, 2010

Caduet (Amlodipine Besylate/Atorvastatin Calcium) Tablets by Pfizer
CADUET is a combination of two drugs, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist (calcium ion antagonist or slow-channel blocker) amlodipine (antihypertensive/antianginal agent) and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor atorvastatin (cholesterol lowering agent). Revised: January 2010

Crestor ~ Public Citizen Warning:
Petition to the FDA to remove Crestor from the market.
Page down to the "Reader Comments".....

Crestor (Rosuvastatin Calcium) Tablets by AstraZeneca
Synthetic lipid-lowering agent. Atorvastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early and rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis.
Revised: June, 2010

Lescol/XL (Fluvastatin Sodium) Capsules/Tablets by Novartis
Fullu Synthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and is hydrophilic.
Revised: October 2006

Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) Tablets by Pfizer
Synthetic lipid-lowering agent. Atorvastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early and rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis.
Revised: June, 2009

Lopid (Gemfibrozil) Tablets by Pfizer
LOPID is a lipid regulating agent which decreases serum triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. While modest decreases in total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol may be observed with LOPID therapy, treatment of patients with elevated triglycerides due to Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia often results in a rise in LDL-cholesterol.
FDA Medwatch: September, 2009

Mevacor (Lovastatin) Tablets by Merck
Cholesterol lowering agent isolated from a strain of Aspergillus terreus.
Revised: May, 2010

Pravachol (Pravastatin Sodium) Tablets by Bristol Myers Squibb
New class of lipid-lowering compounds, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, which reduce cholesterol biosynthesis.
Revised: March, 2007

FDA Medwatch Documents - Homepage

Tricor (Fenofibrate) Tablets by Abbott
Tricor is used to lower triglyceride (fat-like substances) levels and cholesterol levels in the blood. Revised: December, 2008

Vytorin is a combination of Zetia (Ezetimibe) & Zocor (Simvastatin)
Ezetimibe is a selective inhibitor of intestinal cholesterol and related phytosterol absorption, and Simvastatin is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor.
Revised: May, 2010

Zetia (Ezetimibe) Tablets by Merck
ZETIA is in a class of lipid-lowering compounds that selectively inhibits the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and related phytosterols.
Revised: July, 2009

Zocor (Simvastatin) Tablets by Merck
Lipid-lowering agent that is derived synthetically from a fermentation product
Revised: May, 2010

All links updated 9/4/10