Lipid Lowering Drugs

Lipid lowering drugs

What is lipid?
Lipid is white wax like organic substance made up of sterols, fats, vitamins soluble in fat, diglycerides, monoglycerides and phospholipids. There are eight types of lipids found in human body. Lipids perform many important functions such as membrane formation, storage of energy, carrying signals and dissolve vitamins that are not soluble in water. Triacylglycerols, cholesterol and phospholipids are most common types of lipids found in food.

• Fatty acyls
• Glycerolipids (triglycerides)
• Glycerophospholipids
• Sphingolipids
• Sterol lipids
• Prenol lipids
• Saccharolipids
• Polyketides

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is sterol lipid. It is an essential lipid for human body. Cholesterol maintains permeability of cell membrane i.e. maintains easy flow of molecules to pass through membrane. Body system requires cholesterol to produce steroidal hormones and bile acid. Excess presence of cholesterol is very harmful despite its important functions and necessity. High cholesterol level leads to heart problem such as blockages in coronary arteries and veins. LDL (Low density liporprtien) is strongly associated to critical health conditions while, on the other hand, HDL (high density lipoprotien) is considered to be good cholesterol.
* Statins: Statin drugs are most prescribed drugs class to lower sterol lipid (cholesterol) level in bloodstream. Statin drugs work by preventing HMG-CoA reductase enzyme from getting activated. HMG-CoA reductase decides the rate at which cholesterol is synthesized. Inhibition of these enzymes reduce the cholesterol formation and increase protein (Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor) that helps cells to absorb cholesterol-rich LDL.
Statin drugs lowers LDL by 18% to 55% in blood.
Drugs of This Class are....

• Lipitor, Torvast (Atorvastatin)
• Lipobay, Baycol (Cerivastatin)
• Lescol, Lescol XL (Fluvastatin)
• Mevacor, Altocor (Lovastatin)
• Mevastatin
• Livalo, Pitava (Pitavastatin)
• Pravachol (Pravastatin)
• Crestor (Rosuvastatin)
• Zocor (Simvastatin)
• Vytorin (Simvastatin+Ezetimibe)
• Advicor (Lovastatin+Niacin)
• Caduet (Atorvastatin+Amlodipine Besylate)
• Simcor (Simvastatin+Niacin)

* fibrates are used to treat condition known as hypertriglyceridemia, a condition where blood contains high level of triglycerides. Triglycerides is another type of lipid responsible for hardening of arteries. Fibrate works through sticking to receptors of PPAR-α. Activation releases an enzyme that reduces amount of triglycerides and LDL. Fibrate also increases level of the good cholesterol(HDL). Double action of fibrates results in low LDL and high HDL. Fibrates are indicated for prevention of coronary heart disease. Fibrate may cause muscle damage.
Fibrates typically lower triglycerides by 20% to 50%.
Drugs of this class are....
* Bezalip (Bezafibrate)
* Modalim (Ciprofibrate)
* Clofibrate
* Lopid (Gemfibrozil)
* TriCor (Fenofibrate)
Other lipid lowering drug classes are....
* niacin: Lowers LDL by 5-25% and increase HDL by 15-35%. Side effects include liver damage and hyperglycemia.
* bile acid sequestrants
* phytosterols
* Orlistat (Xenical): Xenical works by preventing absorption of fat from food. This drug inhibits an enzyme that is responsible for synthesis of triglycerides. Xenical is also being indicated to treat obesity since its action reduces calories produced from food.

Lipitor For Children Available In Europe

European Commission has given nod to chewable version of cholesterol lowering drug Lipitor, Pfizer said. This new version has been developed exclusively for kids of age above 10.

New kid-lipitor is result of ongoing effort by European Commission to encourage pharmaceutical companies to understand and invest in medicines intended to be used for children. PIP (Pediatric Investigation Plan) was submitted by Pfizer in late 2009 to European Medicines Agency. Pediatric regulations in Europe require pharmaceutical firms to start such plans in order for better understanding of how drug works in kids. Many drugs are just for the use in adult.

The findings of study provided ground for recommendation by Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) to approve kid version of lipitor for treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in adolescents.

Cigarette Smoking, Obesity and Hypertension are some the major leading factors not just in adults but also in children (age between 10-17) causing cardiovascular diseases. This has increased use of prescription drugs in adolescent (for example quit smoking drug such as Weullbutrin and Zyban and Anti depression Medications)

Obesity, for example, results in high cholesterol level and blood pressure. Obesity rate in children was 6%-7% which has doubled in 2008 (see study).

Lipitor was first approved by FDA in 1996 for treatment of hyperlipidemia (Higher level of cholesterol). Lipitor, until now, was not for use of children. New chewable version was approved in America by US FDA in 2002.