Vytorin Review

I've taken cholesterol lowering medication for years, Zocor to be specific. So, imagine my delight when last year, June I think, Merck's patent on this medication expired. Suddenly, the 40mg dose I was taking would no longer cost almost $150 a month, but rather the lowly sum of $4. Generics were available.

Oddly enough the manufacturer of the first generic was in fact Merck! Seems they could sell this stuff for almost 40 times less and still make a profit. (Picture in your mind a crack dealer wearing a suit).

Ah, but in the wings, Merck was in partnership to produce a new and improved medication, Vytorin, a combination of Zocor and Zetia. Patent protected, interestingly it was going to cost about $150 a month.

Suddenly, the TV was broadcasting the merits of this new wonder drug. It not only protected you from the cholesterol in your diet but the cholesterol you inherited from your no good relatives. I'm sure you saw these commercials. Something seemed wrong. So I did what I do. Research.

The commercial would have you believe that Zocor was taking care of your dietary cholesterol and the added Zetia was taking care of your inheritance. But actually it was the other way around! Zetia, it was claimed, limits the absorption of fats and cholesterol in your diet. Now how about that!

The problem is, of course, that dietary cholesterol contributes to your overall cholesterol level by only a modest amount, very modest. Not enough to justify switching to this new medication. So, when my doctor suggested the switch, I chose to stand pat and take my $4.00 Zocor.  He was more than a little surprised.  After all, the pretty girl who brought bagels and stuff to the office every week swore it was great stuff.

Well a few weeks ago you might have seen the news stories that clinical testing failed to show that the new combo drug was any better than the now generic Zocor. In fact, arterial plaque was controlled to a greater extent by Zocor than by Vytorin. To make matters worse, it appears that the manufacturers knew this all along.

My Viewpoint

 Shame on you Merck!  You've been busted.  Patients:  Do a little reading before you buy into the next wonder drug.  Me?  I've switched doctors.  Bagel girl or no.

Regards,

Rudi