Crestor now available

It seems to me I heard somewhere that Brad Sheppard wrote in article
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

My pharmacy told me that the newest statin Crestor is now available.
I'm planning on switching from Lipitor 10 mg to Crestor 5 mg. So far
only the 10 mg Crestor is available - I'll split 10's to make 5. I
like the idea of low dosage, and I'll see if the 5 mg Crestor works as
well as the 10 mg Lipitor. I've decided Crestor is better than the
other statins - of course, that's only my opinion. As an investment
manager I look into those things and try to figure how much market
share Crestor will take from the other statins. No, I don't own stock
in the company making Crestor. An ad blitz is coming, in a few months
Crestor will be better known.

Brad, your doctor must be very accessible and cooperative. I usually
have to wait a month or more for an appointment and none of my doctors
have been willing to change dosages or medications until they've seen a
new lipid panel result.

Do the Crestor docs suggest it's twice as potent per mg as Lipitor?
--
Don
[email hidden]

Re: my doc - I'll find out soon enough. We work in the same office
building. Yes, Crestor 5 mg appears more effective than Lipitor 10
mg. Also, all strengths of Crestor cost the same. I'm getting out my
pill splitter! " In a six-week dose-ranging placebo-controlled study
using a 5, 10, 20 or 40 mg dose, Crestor lowered LDL- cholesterol by
45 to 63 percent (7 percent for placebo), and increased HDL-
cholesterol by 8 to 14 percent (3 percent for placebo). In a
comparative clinical trial of more than 2,200 patients, Crestor 10 mg
to 40 mg reduced LDL-cholesterol by 46 percent to 55 percent;
atorvastatin 10 mg to 80 mg reduced LDL-cholesterol by 37 percent to
51 percent; simvastatin 10 mg to 80 mg reduced LDL-cholesterol by 28
percent to 46 percent; and pravastatin 10 mg to 40 mg reduced
LDL-cholesterol by 20 percent to 30 percent."
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/8525697700573E1885256D81004FF970?OpenDocument&c=Cholesterol%2FLipid%20Disorders&count=10

Don Kirkman <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

It seems to me I heard somewhere that Brad Sheppard wrote in article
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

My pharmacy told me that the newest statin Crestor is now available.
I'm planning on switching from Lipitor 10 mg to Crestor 5 mg. So far
only the 10 mg Crestor is available - I'll split 10's to make 5. I
like the idea of low dosage, and I'll see if the 5 mg Crestor works as
well as the 10 mg Lipitor. I've decided Crestor is better than the
other statins - of course, that's only my opinion. As an investment
manager I look into those things and try to figure how much market
share Crestor will take from the other statins. No, I don't own stock
in the company making Crestor. An ad blitz is coming, in a few months
Crestor will be better known.

Brad, your doctor must be very accessible and cooperative. I usually
have to wait a month or more for an appointment and none of my doctors
have been willing to change dosages or medications until they've seen a
new lipid panel result.

Do the Crestor docs suggest it's twice as potent per mg as Lipitor?

Good point, Mel. I just like taking 5 mg instead of 10 mg. Also,
Astra Zeneca is pricing all size pills the same. I'm going to buy the
10 mg and split them. I'll save $10 a month (on co-pay drug plan).
If I were paying full price I might buy the 40mg and split 8 ways.

[email hidden] (M. Schwartz) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Brad Sheppard) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

My pharmacy told me that the newest statin Crestor is now available.
I'm planning on switching from Lipitor 10 mg to Crestor 5 mg. So far
only the 10 mg Crestor is available - I'll split 10's to make 5. I
like the idea of low dosage, and I'll see if the 5 mg Crestor works as
well as the 10 mg Lipitor. I've decided Crestor is better than the
other statins - of course, that's only my opinion. As an investment
manager I look into those things and try to figure how much market
share Crestor will take from the other statins. No, I don't own stock
in the company making Crestor. An ad blitz is coming, in a few months
Crestor will be better known.

What are the advantages of Crestor over Zocor?

Isn't it kind of early to seek out a new statin? Remember Baycol?

Mel

Brad Sheppard said:

My pharmacy told me that the newest statin Crestor is now available.
I'm planning on switching from Lipitor 10 mg to Crestor 5 mg. So far
only the 10 mg Crestor is available - I'll split 10's to make 5.

I was reading the FDA guidance on prescribing Crestor---the starting
dose for most people is also 10 mg. There is a 5 mg but that
was recommended only for people on some other drug (can't remember).

Astra-Zenica originally applied for 10,20,40 and 80mg---but the 80 mg
was rejected (rightly) by the FDA because of evidence of increased
side effects. They then went back and applied for 5 mg.

Quoted message said:

I
like the idea of low dosage, and I'll see if the 5 mg Crestor works as
well as the 10 mg Lipitor.

I think the AZN strategy in dosing is primarily marketing-driven.

If people see a wide range of dosages approved, then they would imagine
"gee if the FDA approves up to 80 and 10 is the start dose, then 10
must be really safe!". Well the 80 wasn't approved, so now they halve
everything and ask for a 5 mg.

Still, 10mg is the recommended start dose, as for Lipitor.

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/briefing/
3968B1_02_A-FDA-Clinical%20Review.pdf

Though the data do show that 5mg works pretty well too.

Quoted message said:

I've decided Crestor is better than the
other statins - of course, that's only my opinion.

There has been no head-to-head trial and neither Pfizer or Astra-Zenica
are likely to sponsor one.

Quoted message said:

As an investment
manager I look into those things and try to figure how much market
share Crestor will take from the other statins. No, I don't own stock
in the company making Crestor. An ad blitz is coming, in a few months
Crestor will be better known.

Personally I don't see any substantial advantage of Crestor over
Lipitor (whereas Lipitor seemed alot better at LDL reduction than its
contemporaneous competitors). In that case, why take the risk before
N=50,000 patient experiences have been reported to the FDA?

Note I am a 100% layman and not a doctor!

[email hidden] (Brad Sheppard) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

It appears to me that 10 mg of Crestor is equal to 10 mg of Lipitor
and about 20 mg of Zocor.

Your cutting Crestor to 5 mg is most likely the same as taking 5 mg of
Lipitor in terms of it being a statin drug - I am not talking results.

If Crestor reduces LDL and/or raises HDL better than equal amounts of
Lipitor or Zocor (5 mg of Crestor is probably like taking 10 mg of
Zocor), then what about the side effects? Remember Baycol? It might be
too early to switch.

Mel, just being cautious.

Quoted message said:

Re: my doc - I'll find out soon enough. We work in the same office
building. Yes, Crestor 5 mg appears more effective than Lipitor 10
mg. Also, all strengths of Crestor cost the same. I'm getting out my
pill splitter! " In a six-week dose-ranging placebo-controlled study
using a 5, 10, 20 or 40 mg dose, Crestor lowered LDL- cholesterol by
45 to 63 percent (7 percent for placebo), and increased HDL-
cholesterol by 8 to 14 percent (3 percent for placebo). In a
comparative clinical trial of more than 2,200 patients, Crestor 10 mg
to 40 mg reduced LDL-cholesterol by 46 percent to 55 percent;
atorvastatin 10 mg to 80 mg reduced LDL-cholesterol by 37 percent to
51 percent; simvastatin 10 mg to 80 mg reduced LDL-cholesterol by 28
percent to 46 percent; and pravastatin 10 mg to 40 mg reduced
LDL-cholesterol by 20 percent to 30 percent."
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/8525697700573E1885256D81004FF970?OpenDocument&c=Cholesterol%2FLipid%20Disorders&count=10

Don Kirkman <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

It seems to me I heard somewhere that Brad Sheppard wrote in article
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

My pharmacy told me that the newest statin Crestor is now available.
I'm planning on switching from Lipitor 10 mg to Crestor 5 mg. So far
only the 10 mg Crestor is available - I'll split 10's to make 5. I
like the idea of low dosage, and I'll see if the 5 mg Crestor works as
well as the 10 mg Lipitor. I've decided Crestor is better than the
other statins - of course, that's only my opinion. As an investment
manager I look into those things and try to figure how much market
share Crestor will take from the other statins. No, I don't own stock
in the company making Crestor. An ad blitz is coming, in a few months
Crestor will be better known.

Brad, your doctor must be very accessible and cooperative. I usually
have to wait a month or more for an appointment and none of my doctors
have been willing to change dosages or medications until they've seen a
new lipid panel result.

Do the Crestor docs suggest it's twice as potent per mg as Lipitor?

You make a good point about risks of a new drug. I think I've been
scared reading all the negatives about statins in this newsgroup, so I
want to reduce my dose of statins as low as possible. I guess I'm
saying I'm willing to take the risk of the new drug in order to avoid
the risk of the 10 mg statin dose. I still like statins - lower
inflammation, possibly prevent alzeimhers - I believe generally the
benefit outweigh the risks.

Dr Chaos <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Brad Sheppard said:

My pharmacy told me that the newest statin Crestor is now available.
I'm planning on switching from Lipitor 10 mg to Crestor 5 mg. So far
only the 10 mg Crestor is available - I'll split 10's to make 5.

I was reading the FDA guidance on prescribing Crestor---the starting
dose for most people is also 10 mg. There is a 5 mg but that
was recommended only for people on some other drug (can't remember).

Astra-Zenica originally applied for 10,20,40 and 80mg---but the 80 mg
was rejected (rightly) by the FDA because of evidence of increased
side effects. They then went back and applied for 5 mg.

Quoted message said:

I
like the idea of low dosage, and I'll see if the 5 mg Crestor works as
well as the 10 mg Lipitor.

I think the AZN strategy in dosing is primarily marketing-driven.

If people see a wide range of dosages approved, then they would imagine
"gee if the FDA approves up to 80 and 10 is the start dose, then 10
must be really safe!". Well the 80 wasn't approved, so now they halve
everything and ask for a 5 mg.

Still, 10mg is the recommended start dose, as for Lipitor.

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/briefing/
3968B1_02_A-FDA-Clinical%20Review.pdf

Though the data do show that 5mg works pretty well too.

Quoted message said:

I've decided Crestor is better than the
other statins - of course, that's only my opinion.

There has been no head-to-head trial and neither Pfizer or Astra-Zenica
are likely to sponsor one.

Quoted message said:

As an investment
manager I look into those things and try to figure how much market
share Crestor will take from the other statins. No, I don't own stock
in the company making Crestor. An ad blitz is coming, in a few months
Crestor will be better known.

Personally I don't see any substantial advantage of Crestor over
Lipitor (whereas Lipitor seemed alot better at LDL reduction than its
contemporaneous competitors). In that case, why take the risk before
N=50,000 patient experiences have been reported to the FDA?

Note I am a 100% layman and not a doctor!

[email hidden] (Brad Sheppard) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Brad, you want to reduce the 10 mg dose but what are you really
accomplishing with 5 mg of Crestor? The 5 mg dose of Crestor is most
likely the same as 5 mg of Lipitor in terms of side effects; for
example, 10 mg of Zocor is about the same as 5 mg of Lipitor. What are
you achieving by taking 5 mg of Crestor instead of 5 mg of Lipitor or
10 mg of Zocor?

Mel

Quoted message said:

You make a good point about risks of a new drug. I think I've been
scared reading all the negatives about statins in this newsgroup, so I
want to reduce my dose of statins as low as possible. I guess I'm
saying I'm willing to take the risk of the new drug in order to avoid
the risk of the 10 mg statin dose. I still like statins - lower
inflammation, possibly prevent alzeimhers - I believe generally the
benefit outweigh the risks.

Dr Chaos <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Brad Sheppard said:

My pharmacy told me that the newest statin Crestor is now available.
I'm planning on switching from Lipitor 10 mg to Crestor 5 mg. So far
only the 10 mg Crestor is available - I'll split 10's to make 5.

I was reading the FDA guidance on prescribing Crestor---the starting
dose for most people is also 10 mg. There is a 5 mg but that
was recommended only for people on some other drug (can't remember).

Astra-Zenica originally applied for 10,20,40 and 80mg---but the 80 mg
was rejected (rightly) by the FDA because of evidence of increased
side effects. They then went back and applied for 5 mg.

Quoted message said:

I
like the idea of low dosage, and I'll see if the 5 mg Crestor works as
well as the 10 mg Lipitor.

I think the AZN strategy in dosing is primarily marketing-driven.

If people see a wide range of dosages approved, then they would imagine
"gee if the FDA approves up to 80 and 10 is the start dose, then 10
must be really safe!". Well the 80 wasn't approved, so now they halve
everything and ask for a 5 mg.

Still, 10mg is the recommended start dose, as for Lipitor.

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/briefing/
3968B1_02_A-FDA-Clinical%20Review.pdf

Though the data do show that 5mg works pretty well too.

Quoted message said:

I've decided Crestor is better than the
other statins - of course, that's only my opinion.

There has been no head-to-head trial and neither Pfizer or Astra-Zenica
are likely to sponsor one.

Quoted message said:

As an investment
manager I look into those things and try to figure how much market
share Crestor will take from the other statins. No, I don't own stock
in the company making Crestor. An ad blitz is coming, in a few months
Crestor will be better known.

Personally I don't see any substantial advantage of Crestor over
Lipitor (whereas Lipitor seemed alot better at LDL reduction than its
contemporaneous competitors). In that case, why take the risk before
N=50,000 patient experiences have been reported to the FDA?

Note I am a 100% layman and not a doctor!

Mel, I've read the prescribing info and side effects on Crestor - very
impressive the lack of problems. The 5 mg dose should have even fewer
side effects. The evidence is that 5 mg Crestor lowers chol and raise
HDL more than 10 mg Lipitor. It seems to my layman eyes that Crestor
is a superior statin than Lipitor.

[email hidden] (M. Schwartz) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Brad Sheppard) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Brad, you want to reduce the 10 mg dose but what are you really
accomplishing with 5 mg of Crestor? The 5 mg dose of Crestor is most
likely the same as 5 mg of Lipitor in terms of side effects; for
example, 10 mg of Zocor is about the same as 5 mg of Lipitor. What are
you achieving by taking 5 mg of Crestor instead of 5 mg of Lipitor or
10 mg of Zocor?

Mel

Quoted message said:

You make a good point about risks of a new drug. I think I've been
scared reading all the negatives about statins in this newsgroup, so I
want to reduce my dose of statins as low as possible. I guess I'm
saying I'm willing to take the risk of the new drug in order to avoid
the risk of the 10 mg statin dose. I still like statins - lower
inflammation, possibly prevent alzeimhers - I believe generally the
benefit outweigh the risks.

Dr Chaos <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Brad Sheppard <[email hidden]> wrote:
> My pharmacy told me that the newest statin Crestor is now available.
> I'm planning on switching from Lipitor 10 mg to Crestor 5 mg. So far
> only the 10 mg Crestor is available - I'll split 10's to make 5.

I was reading the FDA guidance on prescribing Crestor---the starting
dose for most people is also 10 mg. There is a 5 mg but that
was recommended only for people on some other drug (can't remember).

Astra-Zenica originally applied for 10,20,40 and 80mg---but the 80 mg
was rejected (rightly) by the FDA because of evidence of increased
side effects. They then went back and applied for 5 mg.

> I
> like the idea of low dosage, and I'll see if the 5 mg Crestor works as
> well as the 10 mg Lipitor.

I think the AZN strategy in dosing is primarily marketing-driven.

If people see a wide range of dosages approved, then they would imagine
"gee if the FDA approves up to 80 and 10 is the start dose, then 10
must be really safe!". Well the 80 wasn't approved, so now they halve
everything and ask for a 5 mg.

Still, 10mg is the recommended start dose, as for Lipitor.

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/briefing/
3968B1_02_A-FDA-Clinical%20Review.pdf

Though the data do show that 5mg works pretty well too.

> I've decided Crestor is better than the
> other statins - of course, that's only my opinion.

There has been no head-to-head trial and neither Pfizer or Astra-Zenica
are likely to sponsor one.

>As an investment
> manager I look into those things and try to figure how much market
> share Crestor will take from the other statins. No, I don't own stock
> in the company making Crestor. An ad blitz is coming, in a few months
> Crestor will be better known.

Personally I don't see any substantial advantage of Crestor over
Lipitor (whereas Lipitor seemed alot better at LDL reduction than its
contemporaneous competitors). In that case, why take the risk before
N=50,000 patient experiences have been reported to the FDA?

Note I am a 100% layman and not a doctor!

[email hidden] (Brad Sheppard) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Mel, I've read the prescribing info and side effects on Crestor - very
impressive the lack of problems. The 5 mg dose should have even fewer
side effects. The evidence is that 5 mg Crestor lowers chol and raise
HDL more than 10 mg Lipitor. It seems to my layman eyes that Crestor
is a superior statin than Lipitor.

Where do you see that 5 mg of Crestor has a better effect on
cholesterol than 10 mg of Lipitor, and better side effects?

Can you provide a link?

Mel

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (M. Schwartz) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Brad Sheppard) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Brad, you want to reduce the 10 mg dose but what are you really
accomplishing with 5 mg of Crestor? The 5 mg dose of Crestor is most
likely the same as 5 mg of Lipitor in terms of side effects; for
example, 10 mg of Zocor is about the same as 5 mg of Lipitor. What are
you achieving by taking 5 mg of Crestor instead of 5 mg of Lipitor or
10 mg of Zocor?

Mel

Quoted message said:

You make a good point about risks of a new drug. I think I've been
scared reading all the negatives about statins in this newsgroup, so I
want to reduce my dose of statins as low as possible. I guess I'm
saying I'm willing to take the risk of the new drug in order to avoid
the risk of the 10 mg statin dose. I still like statins - lower
inflammation, possibly prevent alzeimhers - I believe generally the
benefit outweigh the risks.

Dr Chaos <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
> Brad Sheppard <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > My pharmacy told me that the newest statin Crestor is now available.
> > I'm planning on switching from Lipitor 10 mg to Crestor 5 mg. So far
> > only the 10 mg Crestor is available - I'll split 10's to make 5.
>
> I was reading the FDA guidance on prescribing Crestor---the starting
> dose for most people is also 10 mg. There is a 5 mg but that
> was recommended only for people on some other drug (can't remember).
>
> Astra-Zenica originally applied for 10,20,40 and 80mg---but the 80 mg
> was rejected (rightly) by the FDA because of evidence of increased
> side effects. They then went back and applied for 5 mg.
>
> > I
> > like the idea of low dosage, and I'll see if the 5 mg Crestor works as
> > well as the 10 mg Lipitor.
>
> I think the AZN strategy in dosing is primarily marketing-driven.
>
> If people see a wide range of dosages approved, then they would imagine
> "gee if the FDA approves up to 80 and 10 is the start dose, then 10
> must be really safe!". Well the 80 wasn't approved, so now they halve
> everything and ask for a 5 mg.
>
> Still, 10mg is the recommended start dose, as for Lipitor.
>
> http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/briefing/
> 3968B1_02_A-FDA-Clinical%20Review.pdf
>
>
>
> Though the data do show that 5mg works pretty well too.
>
> > I've decided Crestor is better than the
> > other statins - of course, that's only my opinion.
>
> There has been no head-to-head trial and neither Pfizer or Astra-Zenica
> are likely to sponsor one.
>
> >As an investment
> > manager I look into those things and try to figure how much market
> > share Crestor will take from the other statins. No, I don't own stock
> > in the company making Crestor. An ad blitz is coming, in a few months
> > Crestor will be better known.
>
> Personally I don't see any substantial advantage of Crestor over
> Lipitor (whereas Lipitor seemed alot better at LDL reduction than its
> contemporaneous competitors). In that case, why take the risk before
> N=50,000 patient experiences have been reported to the FDA?
>
> Note I am a 100% layman and not a doctor!

"M. Schwartz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Where do you see that 5 mg of Crestor has a better effect on
cholesterol than 10 mg of Lipitor, and better side effects?

Can you provide a link?

Mel

from page 7 CRESTOR prescription information

Table 2. Percent Change in LDL-C From Baseline

Treatment Daily Dose
Treatment 10 mg 20 mg 40 mg 80 mg
-------------------------------------------------------------
CRESTOR -46 -52 -55 -
LIPITOR -37 -43 -48 -51
PRAVACHOL -20 -24 -30 -
ZOCOR -28 -35 -39 -46

Mel, it appears that the data on Crestor 5 mg is not available,
however, on the basis of 10 mg comparisons with Lipitor that 5 mg
Crestor is very likely to be more effective that 10 mg Lipitor. In a
nutshell, 10 mg Crestor is about twice as effective as 10 mg Lipitor
in lowering the total chol to hdl ratio - which best predicts CHD.
(note - a earlier press release had incomplete info - hence I thought
the 5 mg results were available).

Crestor 10 mg , 52% reduction LDL, HDL + 7.6%
Lipitor 10 mg, 29% reduction LDL, HDL +5.5% (called Atorvastatin)

Crestor 5 mg ?% reduction LDL ? likely to be at least 40%
Crestor 10 mg , 52% reduction LDL
Crestor 20 mg , 55% reduction LDL
Crestor 40 mg , 63% reduction LDL

http://www.lipitor.com/lipitor/default.asp

http://www.crestor.info/index.asp?did=3170&aid=20838&l1=2&l2=0&ch=LDL-C+Lowering+Efficacy

[email hidden] (M. Schwartz) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Brad Sheppard) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Mel, I've read the prescribing info and side effects on Crestor - very
impressive the lack of problems. The 5 mg dose should have even fewer
side effects. The evidence is that 5 mg Crestor lowers chol and raise
HDL more than 10 mg Lipitor. It seems to my layman eyes that Crestor
is a superior statin than Lipitor.

Where do you see that 5 mg of Crestor has a better effect on
cholesterol than 10 mg of Lipitor, and better side effects?

Can you provide a link?

Mel

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (M. Schwartz) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Brad Sheppard) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Brad, you want to reduce the 10 mg dose but what are you really
accomplishing with 5 mg of Crestor? The 5 mg dose of Crestor is most
likely the same as 5 mg of Lipitor in terms of side effects; for
example, 10 mg of Zocor is about the same as 5 mg of Lipitor. What are
you achieving by taking 5 mg of Crestor instead of 5 mg of Lipitor or
10 mg of Zocor?

Mel

> You make a good point about risks of a new drug. I think I've been
> scared reading all the negatives about statins in this newsgroup, so I
> want to reduce my dose of statins as low as possible. I guess I'm
> saying I'm willing to take the risk of the new drug in order to avoid
> the risk of the 10 mg statin dose. I still like statins - lower
> inflammation, possibly prevent alzeimhers - I believe generally the
> benefit outweigh the risks.
>
> Dr Chaos <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
> > Brad Sheppard <[email hidden]> wrote:
> > > My pharmacy told me that the newest statin Crestor is now available.
> > > I'm planning on switching from Lipitor 10 mg to Crestor 5 mg. So far
> > > only the 10 mg Crestor is available - I'll split 10's to make 5.
> >
> > I was reading the FDA guidance on prescribing Crestor---the starting
> > dose for most people is also 10 mg. There is a 5 mg but that
> > was recommended only for people on some other drug (can't remember).
> >
> > Astra-Zenica originally applied for 10,20,40 and 80mg---but the 80 mg
> > was rejected (rightly) by the FDA because of evidence of increased
> > side effects. They then went back and applied for 5 mg.
> >
> > > I
> > > like the idea of low dosage, and I'll see if the 5 mg Crestor works as
> > > well as the 10 mg Lipitor.
> >
> > I think the AZN strategy in dosing is primarily marketing-driven.
> >
> > If people see a wide range of dosages approved, then they would imagine
> > "gee if the FDA approves up to 80 and 10 is the start dose, then 10
> > must be really safe!". Well the 80 wasn't approved, so now they halve
> > everything and ask for a 5 mg.
> >
> > Still, 10mg is the recommended start dose, as for Lipitor.
> >
> > http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/briefing/
> > 3968B1_02_A-FDA-Clinical%20Review.pdf
> >
> >
> >
> > Though the data do show that 5mg works pretty well too.
> >
> > > I've decided Crestor is better than the
> > > other statins - of course, that's only my opinion.
> >
> > There has been no head-to-head trial and neither Pfizer or Astra-Zenica
> > are likely to sponsor one.
> >
> > >As an investment
> > > manager I look into those things and try to figure how much market
> > > share Crestor will take from the other statins. No, I don't own stock
> > > in the company making Crestor. An ad blitz is coming, in a few months
> > > Crestor will be better known.
> >
> > Personally I don't see any substantial advantage of Crestor over
> > Lipitor (whereas Lipitor seemed alot better at LDL reduction than its
> > contemporaneous competitors). In that case, why take the risk before
> > N=50,000 patient experiences have been reported to the FDA?
> >
> > Note I am a 100% layman and not a doctor!

Brad Sheppard said:

Mel, it appears that the data on Crestor 5 mg is not available,
however, on the basis of 10 mg comparisons with Lipitor that 5 mg
Crestor is very likely to be more effective that 10 mg Lipitor. In a
nutshell, 10 mg Crestor is about twice as effective as 10 mg Lipitor
in lowering the total chol to hdl ratio - which best predicts CHD.
(note - a earlier press release had incomplete info - hence I thought
the 5 mg results were available).

Crestor 10 mg , 52% reduction LDL, HDL + 7.6%
Lipitor 10 mg, 29% reduction LDL, HDL +5.5% (called Atorvastatin)

that 29% seems awfully low. How does it compare to other
atorvastatin studies?

Oops, you're correct. That was total chol down 29%, LDL down 39%
Crestor 10 mg: LDL down 52%. The Crestor advantage is less impressive
than I stated. I'll still wager that Crestor 5 mg will beat Lipitor
10 mg.

"LIPITOR has been shown, along with diet, to lower total cholesterol
by 29% to 45% and "bad" LDL cholesterol by 39% to 60% (average effect
depending on dose)." www.lipitor.com

Dr Chaos <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Brad Sheppard said:

Mel, it appears that the data on Crestor 5 mg is not available,
however, on the basis of 10 mg comparisons with Lipitor that 5 mg
Crestor is very likely to be more effective that 10 mg Lipitor. In a
nutshell, 10 mg Crestor is about twice as effective as 10 mg Lipitor
in lowering the total chol to hdl ratio - which best predicts CHD.
(note - a earlier press release had incomplete info - hence I thought
the 5 mg results were available).

Crestor 10 mg , 52% reduction LDL, HDL + 7.6%
Lipitor 10 mg, 29% reduction LDL, HDL +5.5% (called Atorvastatin)

that 29% seems awfully low. How does it compare to other
atorvastatin studies?