Clipping Board » Drug Poisoning ─ It is necessary to be aware of the toxic side effects before taking medication.
United Daily News / Reporters Chen Huihui and Wei Xinxin / Taipei Report 2008.01.10 07:20 am
Patients taking medications containing atorvastatin, such as Lipitor and Zimaiyou, should be cautious. The Department of Health warned yesterday that patients who have recently suffered a stroke and are using drugs with this ingredient may face an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Lipitor, known as the "flagship cholesterol-lowering drug," is one of the best-selling drugs globally and ranks within the top ten in domestic medication usage. Pfizer, the manufacturer of Lipitor, stated that there have been no reports of adverse reactions leading to hemorrhagic stroke in the country and will closely monitor the situation. Additionally, research has found that the daily dose that increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is 80 milligrams, but clinical use is mostly at 10 milligrams. Only patients with familial hyperlipidemia are prescribed the higher dose of 80 milligrams.
Liao Jizhou, Director of the Department of Health's Pharmaceutical Affairs Division, reminded that medications containing atorvastatin, when used in combination with certain antifungal agents, antibiotics, immunosuppressants, antituberculosis drugs, cardiac vasodilators, and antihistamines, may also increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. It is recommended to consult with a physician to consider pausing or reducing the dosage. The Pharmaceutical Affairs Division has requested that pharmaceutical companies promptly update drug labels to alert physicians and patients.
The UK Department of Health recently issued safety information regarding medications containing atorvastatin, warning patients who have recently had a stroke that taking 80 milligrams of atorvastatin daily may increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Liao Jizhou advised that regardless of a history of stroke, physicians should start with the lowest dose of 10 milligrams and monitor carefully.
Physicians estimate that there are about 68,000 stroke patients annually in the country. Lian Liming, Director of the Neurology Intensive Care Unit at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, said that 40% of stroke patients also have hyperlipidemia issues and often use drugs like Lipitor, but most use between 10 to 40 milligrams daily.
Liu Jiawei, Director of the Cerebrovascular Center at the Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, pointed out that to understand the effectiveness of Lipitor in preventing stroke, a multinational clinical trial named "SPARCL" was initiated seven years ago. The results showed that Lipitor could also prevent myocardial infarction and stroke, including hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes.
Another study divided over 4,000 patients into two groups; among the more than 2,000 patients taking Lipitor, 55 experienced hemorrhagic stroke, a rate significantly higher than the 33 in the placebo group. Liu Jiawei said further analysis revealed that males, those with high blood pressure, and those with a history of hemorrhagic stroke are high-risk groups. These findings were published in a neurology journal.
Liu Jiawei, responsible for drafting hyperlipidemia treatment guidelines for the Stroke Society, believes that clinicians should be particularly cautious with hyperlipidemia patients who have high blood pressure and a history of hemorrhagic stroke, focusing not only on treating the lipid levels but also on other symptoms.
Source: http://www. udn. com/ 2008/ 1/ 10/ NEWS/ HEALTH/ HEA1/ 4174261. shtml
Cholesterol-Lowering Flagship Drug May Increase Stroke Risk
Patients taking medications containing atorvastatin, such as Lipitor and Zimaiyou, should be cautious. The Department of Health warned yesterday that patients who have recently suffered a stroke and are using drugs with this ingredient may face an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Lipitor, known as the "flagship cholesterol-lowering drug," is one of the best-selling drugs globally and ranks within the top ten in domestic medication usage. Pfizer, the manufacturer of Lipitor, stated that there have been no reports of adverse reactions leading to hemorrhagic stroke in the country and will closely monitor the situation. Additionally, research has found that the daily dose that increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is 80 milligrams, but clinical use is mostly at 10 milligrams. Only patients with familial hyperlipidemia are prescribed the higher dose of 80 milligrams.
Liao Jizhou, Director of the Department of Health's Pharmaceutical Affairs Division, reminded that medications containing atorvastatin, when used in combination with certain antifungal agents, antibiotics, immunosuppressants, antituberculosis drugs, cardiac vasodilators, and antihistamines, may also increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. It is recommended to consult with a physician to consider pausing or reducing the dosage. The Pharmaceutical Affairs Division has requested that pharmaceutical companies promptly update drug labels to alert physicians and patients.
The UK Department of Health recently issued safety information regarding medications containing atorvastatin, warning patients who have recently had a stroke that taking 80 milligrams of atorvastatin daily may increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Liao Jizhou advised that regardless of a history of stroke, physicians should start with the lowest dose of 10 milligrams and monitor carefully.
Physicians estimate that there are about 68,000 stroke patients annually in the country. Lian Liming, Director of the Neurology Intensive Care Unit at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, said that 40% of stroke patients also have hyperlipidemia issues and often use drugs like Lipitor, but most use between 10 to 40 milligrams daily.
Liu Jiawei, Director of the Cerebrovascular Center at the Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, pointed out that to understand the effectiveness of Lipitor in preventing stroke, a multinational clinical trial named "SPARCL" was initiated seven years ago. The results showed that Lipitor could also prevent myocardial infarction and stroke, including hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes.
Another study divided over 4,000 patients into two groups; among the more than 2,000 patients taking Lipitor, 55 experienced hemorrhagic stroke, a rate significantly higher than the 33 in the placebo group. Liu Jiawei said further analysis revealed that males, those with high blood pressure, and those with a history of hemorrhagic stroke are high-risk groups. These findings were published in a neurology journal.
Liu Jiawei, responsible for drafting hyperlipidemia treatment guidelines for the Stroke Society, believes that clinicians should be particularly cautious with hyperlipidemia patients who have high blood pressure and a history of hemorrhagic stroke, focusing not only on treating the lipid levels but also on other symptoms.
Source: http://www. udn. com/ 2008/ 1/ 10/ NEWS/ HEALTH/ HEA1/ 4174261. shtml