The "duration of administration" factor in studies of clinical pharmacology of hypolipemic drugs
Farnier, M.
Archives des Maladies du Coeur et des Vaisseaux 85(Special Issue 2): 113-115
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9683 PMID: 1285688 Document Number: 403206
Clinical pharmacological trials of lipid lowering drugs should first of all indicate the duration of interruption of previously used lipid lowering drugs. The duration of interruption should be at least 4 weeks for inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase, 6 weeks for a second generation fibrate or a resin and over 6 months for probucol. In order to obtain the maximum therapeutic effect, a 4 week treatment period is sufficient for a HMG CoA reductase inhibitor or a resin. On the other hand, this period is longer for a fibrate and a 6 week treatment period is to be preferred with this family of drugs. The efficacy of probucol on the lipid fractions can only be assessed after several months' therapy. In future, a more accurate classification of patients with respect to their physiopathology should provide a better evaluation of the comparative efficacy of the different lipid lowering drugs.