The FDA changes labels on statin medications after reports of some side effects. Elizabeth Cohen has details.
The blockbuster drug Lipitor went generic Wednesday, likely costing its maker billions of dollars in sales, but saving its users a nice sum in their fight against cholesterol.
The world's best-selling cholesterol drug will soon be available at a lower price. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen reports.
"Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: The Last Heart Attack," airs August 21 on CNN.
Most heart attacks strike with no warning, but doctors now have a clearer picture than ever before of who is most likely to have one, says Dr. Arthur Agatston, a Miami cardiologist and author of the best-selling South Beach diet books.
Learning your cholesterol numbers -- the good, the bad and the total -- is a well-established part of the annual physical exam.
February: John Lisk reports on tips to keep your good cholesterol up and your bad cholesterol down.
Just after Thanksgiving this year, if all goes as planned, the pharmaceutical industry will pass a historic milestone: A generic version of Lipitor -- the biggest-selling prescription drug on the face of the earth -- will go on sale for the first time in the U.S.
Fortune: The war over Lipitorupdated: Fri May 06 2011 13:00:00
Just after Thanksgiving this year, if all goes as planned, the pharmaceutical industry will pass a historic milestone: A generic version of Lipitor -- the biggest-selling prescription drug on the face of the earth -- will go on sale for the first time in the U.S.
Bottles of the popular cholesterol-lowering supplement red yeast rice almost always list 600 milligrams of rice as the sole ingredient. But different brands of capsules contain widely varying amounts of the active ingredient that fights cholesterol, a new study suggests.
Cholesterol tests may soon become as routine a part of childhood health care as vaccines. In recent years, a growing number of pediatricians have been pushing for all children to have their cholesterol checked, not just those who appear to be at risk for heart disease later in life.
People who have low levels of the so-called good cholesterol have long been known to be at higher risk of heart attacks and heart disease. Now, a new study suggests they may have a higher risk of cancer, too.
Dianne has always worried about her heart health -- both her parents died of heart attacks -- yet her cholesterol has never been off the charts. All the same, the 59-year-old schoolteacher (who asked that her last name not be used) has been taking a cholesterol-lowering statin for more than two years.
Some nutrition myths bounce around on crazy e-mail chain letters and pop up on goofy evening news reports. Others fuel the sale of rip-off diet books. Some are so accepted they seem hardwired into our brains. Take deep-fried foods, for example. They're universally bad for you, right? Well, no.
Sugar lovers may have to face a bitter truth: The less sugar added to foods for typical people, the better are their blood-fat profiles and the lower are their cardiovascular risks, a study to be published Wednesday concludes.
Hi, I'm 55 and have high cholesterol. I've been on Lipitor, Zocor and Provacol. They have tested me several times in recent years, and the statin drugs are messing up my liver enzymes. My new doctor is planning on putting me on Zetia. Now I'm hearing there are concerns about Zetia. Do you know what they are concerned about?
One in five teens in the U.S. -- and more than 40 percent of obese teens -- have abnormal cholesterol, whether it's low HDL (good cholesterol); high LDL (bad cholesterol); or high levels of triglycerides, another type of blood fat, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most people know that healthy cholesterol levels can help protect your heart. But new research suggests another potential benefit: a lower risk of developing some types of cancer.
Like most people, you probably think of cholesterol -- if you think of it at all -- and picture fatty foods and heart trouble.
Doctors have known for years that a woman's risk of developing heart disease rises after menopause, but they weren't exactly sure why. It wasn't clear whether the increased risk is due to the hormonal changes associated with menopause, to aging itself, or to some combination of the two.
Should people who don't have high cholesterol take a cholesterol-lowering statin? Maybe, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is considering an advisory panel's recent recommendation to do just that.
It's widely known that cholesterol-lowering statins can benefit patients with heart disease, but a new study suggests they may actually harm some people with heart failure.
People as young as 40 with borderline or high cholesterol levels are at increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia, said a Kaiser Permanente study released Tuesday.
Who should care about their cholesterol levels? Everyone, especially women. CNN's Melissa Long explains.
When 48-year-old Erin Peiffer, of Eldersburg, Maryland, learned that she had high cholesterol in her 20s, she never thought it would pose a problem.
You're under 50. You're pretty fit. You can't have a heart attack, right?
If you're looking for an all-natural way to lower your cholesterol -- in addition to watching what you eat and exercising -- there are plenty of dietary supplements on the market that claim to do the trick. Each year seems to bring a new alternative remedy -- garlic, ginseng, or red yeast rice, for example -- that users tout as the next best thing to get cholesterol under control.
Healthy men and women with good cholesterol levels could significantly reduce their risk of heart disease by taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, better known as statins, according to a study released at the American Heart Association meetings in November.
After years of rising cholesterol levels from fatty diets and pudgy waistlines, there's finally good news, experts say. More people who are trying to lower their cholesterol are actually succeeding in getting their low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol, down to healthy levels.
A statin can be a lifesaver if you're at risk of heart disease, but some people who take the cholesterol-lowering drugs -- up to 20 percent, by some estimates -- have to stop because of muscle pain, the most common side effect. (Nearly 30 million people filled a statin prescription in 2005, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Statins include popular drugs such as Crestor, Lipitor, and Zocor.)
Fortune: Rx for flu: statins?updated: Mon May 11 2009 12:05:00
As drug companies race to develop new vaccines to combat novel forms of influenza, such as the H1N1 swine flu, some medical experts say help might already be here.
What the heck are triglycerides? If you don't know, you have plenty of company.
Cholesterol tests aren't just for adults as Judy Fortin reports.
Ask third-graders what cholesterol means and they will probably just shrug their shoulders, but not Maddie Zacks.
What should we include in our diet to increase HDL and lower LDL and triglycerides?
Is CoQ10 beneficial for people taking statins?
What is the name of the new diet to lower cholesterol that Dr. Sanjay Gupta talked about on "House Call" on CNN?
Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins are often hailed as "wonder drugs." But a study published in the January 2008 issue of the journal Neurology says they don't protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease.
Cholesterol has long been seen as the key culprit in cardiovascular disease. But nearly half of all heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels, which suggests that another factor is at work.
About one in two American adults has borderline or high cholesterol levels, which increase one's risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease.
Scientists may have found a way to test for and possibly avoid the most serious side effect of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, one of the top-selling medicines in the world
From curbside snack carts to four-star restaurants, New York City chefs have until next summer to rid their kitchens of trans fat. It's a bold move, but a necessary one, according to city health officials.
Should cholesterol drugs be given to children? New guidelines have caused a stir among doctors and parents
Merck & Co. has halted a study of an experimental drug it had
touted as key to energizing its sagging cholesterol franchise, barely
three weeks after U.S. regulators refused to allow sales of the
drug
Blood cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary artery disease and heart attack, so reducing your risk of high cholesterol is a worthy goal.
Merck said Monday its first-quarter earnings jumped due to income from a partnership, but the drugmaker's sales showed just a slight gain.
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on the CDC's recommendation that parents vaccinate for rotavirus.
Schering-Plough's stock jumped Thursday, after the drugmaker's chief executive announced he would cut 10% of its staff.
Schering-Plough may have lost billions of dollars in the fourth quarter from an acquisition, but its stock jumped Tuesday as the drugmaker's earnings without charges beat expectations.
As Schering-Plough unveils full-year financial results for 2007 tomorrow, CEO Fred Hassan is likely to be peppered with questions about how he managed a recently released study of embattled cholesterol drug, Vytorin.
Lets face it: All the information around cholesterol makes it something of a confusing topic. Not only do we make our own cholesterol, but we also must have it to produce other important body assets, such as cell membranes and certain types of hormones.
Is low cholesterol the pathway to a healthier heart? That's certainly what most medical experts - and their patients - have assumed for the last 30 years or so. But a recently-released study of Merck and Schering-Plough's cholesterol-lowering drug, Vytorin, is giving new voice to medical critics who have groused for decades about the questionable benefit of using medications to lower cholesterol and thereby prevent heart disease.
Merck & Co. reported a surge in fourth-quarter operating earnings Wednesday that exceeded analysts' estimates, but shares slumped in early trading.
A herbal nutrition center will allow patients to get prescription marijuana from a vending machine. Affiliate KCAL reports.
More big drugmakers are on tap this week to report strong 2007 earnings, but that's because 2006 was an easy act to follow.
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta examines recent studies that show Type 2 diabetes could vanish after bariatric surgery.
Government regulators said Friday they are analyzing recent study results regarding cholesterol drug Vytorin, but that it's too early to tell whether it will take any regulatory action.
How's your cholesterol? Here's a guess: If you're healthy, you probably have no idea. New surveys show women tend to be clueless about their risks of heart disease, especially when it comes to managing their cholesterol.
Schering-Plough's stock almost crawled out of its hole Wednesday after a two-day lashing sparked by the results of a cholesterol drug trial, but the shares fell just before the market's close.
A study suggests the cholesterol drug Vytorin may not help arteries more than a generic. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.
Time.com: Is Vytorin a Failure?updated: Tue Jan 15 2008 18:00:00
Surprising study results show that the popular heart drug doesn't live up to its claims -- and three new trials are now under way
Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks about saving money on prescription drugs with Open House host Gerri Willis.
Talking diet
updated: Fri Jan 04 2008 11:00:00
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains the latest developments in diet pills, as well as bad foods that can be good for you.
The drugmakers Merck and Lilly are the biggest players in Big Pharma's late-stage pipeline, with three possible new blockbusters expected in the coming months.
The drugmaker Merck & Co. said Tuesday that it will seek federal approval for two new experimental drugs next year, adding that it's on track to meet its sales targets.
UK drugmaker AstraZeneca suffers a drop in earnings. CNN's Charles Hodson speaks with CEO David Brennan.
A researcher unveiled on Monday the results of a failed Pfizer Inc. study showing that an experimental but dangerous cholesterol drug offers medical benefits too significant to be ignored.
Abbott Laboratories unveiled significant test results Sunday for an experimental cholesterol treatment that could go on sale as soon as next year.
Conjoined twins were born to a Rhode Island woman this week. WJAR's Michelle Brown reports.
Diabetes is the fifth-leading killer of Americans, according to the American Diabetes Association. A sobering two out of three people with type I or type II diabetes will die from a heart attack or stroke -- the combined leading causes of death among diabetics.
Cholesterol-lowering statins may help stave off lung deterioration in the elderly, and even in patients with emphysema and COPD
Stop snoring!updated: Tue Oct 02 2007 14:12:00
England's government is set to pay for pressurized air masks that combat sleep apnea. CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh reports.
Drugmaker Schering-Plough is a favorite of analysts and investors these days. It's no wonder: The company's flagship product, the cholesterol-fighting Vytorin, is breaking sales records and faces relatively little risk from cheaper generic versions from rivals.
Patients who switched from the cholesterol-cutting drug Lipitor to the competitor simvastatin increased their risk of suffering heart attacks and strokes, according to a study that Pfizer unveiled on Wednesday.
Patients who switched from the cholesterol-cutting drug Lipitor to the competitor simvastatin increased their risk of suffering heart attacks and strokes, according to a study that Pfizer unveiled on Wednesday.
A new study suggests that popular cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipitor may help not just the heart, but the brain as well
Pfizer lost the latest round in a patent battle over the declining blockbuster Lipitor that could be worth $6 billion to the pharma giant.
Creating custom food plans for patients isn't the hard part of Bethany Thayer's job. For the Michigan-based registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, one of the most difficult aspects of her work is helping patients interpret the often-contradictory health news they hear each day.
Schering-Plough Corp. said Monday that second-quarter earnings rose sharply, fueled by growing demand for its Zetia and Vytorin cholesterol drugs and treatments for arthritis and allergies.
Pfizer Inc. on Wednesday reported lower-than-expected quarterly earnings on competition with generics, and said global sales of cholesterol fighter Lipitor fell 13 percent amid slipping demand for the company's flagship product.
Pfizer is not in the best of shape. The beating its stock took on Wednesday shows it. The question is, should the drug maker diet or bulk up?
Cholesterol-lowering statins - which include the world's top-selling drug, Lipitor - and other drugs called fibrates can lower the risk of developing a common form of nerve damage in diabetics that often results in amputations, according to study results unveiled Friday.
It's hard out there for drug sales reps--particularly if they work in places where gaining access to doctors is becoming increasingly difficult.
An extremely potent experimental cholesterol drug being developed by Eli Lilly and Co. failed to show an advantage over an existing treatment sold by Abbott Laboratories Inc. in a clinical trial that could determine the fate of the medicine.
As Big Pharma faces patent expirations on some of its most lucrative drugs, the industry is trying to reinvigorate sales by finding creative ways to land new patents - but on the same old drugs.
An experimental drug from AtheroGenics and its partner AstraZeneca failed a late-stage clinical trial and is not considered an effective treatment in reducing heart disease, the companies said.
There's nothing unusual about a Big Pharma company with outgoing blockbusters and a weak pipeline. Virtually every major drugmaker in America is struggling with this issue.
Novartis could be the hottest drug giant in 2007, analysts say, with Schering-Plough and Eli Lilly & Co. not far behind.
After a rough couple of years dealing with patent expirations and the often frustrating hunt for new products, drug industry executives would love nothing better than an oracle to predict what products in their labs will become the big blockbuster drugs over the next few years.
You'd think 12,000 scientists could fill a drug pipeline. And they probably can. But can they fill it to Wall Street's satisfaction?
The California-based biotech Isis Pharmaceuticals could have an effective cholesterol-cutting blockbuster in the works, though it's still early to know for sure.
Merck is experimenting with a new arthritis painkiller that could replace Vioxx, the former billion-dollar blockbuster that has proven to be a liability for the company.
Even if you're in perfect health now, just thinking about the cost of medical care is bound to make you feel a little ill. With the price of everything from hospital visits to prescription drugs up...
It may be America's No. 1 killer, but people aren't scared enough of heart disease, says a top U.S. research cardiologist.
This is a good year for Teva Pharmaceuticals. The world's biggest maker of generic drugs is launching nonbranded versions of three major blockbusters: Zocor, Zoloft and Pravachol.
Drugmaker Schering-Plough may have wowed investors with strong second-quarter earnings - but the company has a cholesterol problem.
A bowl of broth - that was lunch the day I arrived in Richmond. For dinner, two bottles of lemon-flavored Fleet Phospho-soda and four bisacodyl tablets. You see where this is heading?
Pfizer's old reliable - the anti-cholesterol drug Lipitor - could very well be the hero of the second quarter.
The world's biggest drugmaker is launching a potential blockbuster today, but it's going to take more than that for the company to pull out of its rut.
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