Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Simvastatin is the second in the class of compounds known as hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors to be extensively studied in humans. The drug has now been given to over 1,800 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia for periods of up to two years. In the range of dosage from 10 to 40 mg once daily, therapy is associated with reductions of up to 30 percent in total cholesterol and 40 percent in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, as well as with increases of approximately 10 percent in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The most common clinical adverse experiences are mild gastrointestinal effects and headache, which seldom require discontinuation of therapy. Elevations of creatine kinase (skeletal muscle isoenzyme) levels to more than three times the upper limit of the normal range have been seen in about 3 percent of patients, but also have seldom required discontinuation of therapy. Conversely, elevations of hepatic transaminase levels to more than three times the upper limit of the laboratory normal range have been seen in about 1.5 percent of patients and have caused discontinuation of therapy in 0.6 percent of patients treated. Simvastatin appears to be an effective and well-tolerated agent for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia and, as further study confirms long-term safety and efficacy, it should become a useful addition to the therapeutic armamentarium.
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PMID:Simvastatin: the clinical profile. 280 50

The chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, dosage and administration, and adverse effects of lovastatin are reviewed. Lovastatin is the first agent marketed in a new class of pharmacologic compounds called the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors. By competitively inhibiting HMG CoA reductase, the drug disrupts the biosynthesis of cholesterol in hepatic and peripheral cells. This increases the synthesis of low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptors and thereby increases the uptake of LDL cholesterol from the plasma. In doses of 20 to 80 mg daily, lovastatin decreases total and LDL cholesterol concentrations 25 to 45%. It also substantially reduces concentrations of triglycerides, very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B and slightly increases high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations. Lovastatin is effective in patients with heterozygous familial and nonfamilial (polygenic) hypercholesterolemia but is ineffective in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. It is also effective in combination with bile acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid, and gemfibrozil. Administration of lovastatin once daily in the evening (to enhance compliance) or twice daily is recommended to maximize the drug's cholesterol-lowering effects. Headache and gastrointestinal complaints are the most common adverse effects. Treatment has been withdrawn from 1.9% of patients receiving the drug because of elevated aminotransferase concentrations. The relationship of lovastatin to the development of lens opacities requires further evaluation. Lovastatin is highly effective in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia and represents an important therapeutic advance. Safety with long-term use and effect on coronary heart disease remain to be established.
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PMID:Lovastatin: a new cholesterol-lowering agent. 327 32

The effects of fluvastatin and bezafibrate on lipids, lipoproteins, and apoproteins (apo) were investigated in a multicenter randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study. After 8 weeks of strictly controlled (computer-based assessment) dietary stabilization, patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] > or = 160 mg/dL; triglycerides < or = 300 mg/dL) were enrolled into a 6-week placebo phase. Altogether, 131 patients were randomized to receive either fluvastatin at 40 mg once daily (n = 64; mean age 53 years) or bezafibrate at 400 mg once daily (n = 67; mean age 52 years) for 12 weeks. Compliance with the diet was monitored (3-day food records) after 6 and 12 weeks. Fluvastatin led to significant reductions in LDL-C (-23%), total cholesterol (-17%), LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (-24%) and apo B (-19%). Fluvastatin significantly increased LpA-I (+8%) and apo E (+20%). Bezafibrate produced significant reductions in LDL-C (-17%), total cholesterol (-13%), LDL-C/HDL-C (-24%), triglycerides (-28%), apo B (-15%), and LpA-I (-10%) and significantly increased HDL-C (+12%), apo A-I (+9%), apo A-II (+30%), apo E (+14%), and Lp(a) (+3%). No clinically notable increases in levels of liver enzymes or creatine phosphokinase were observed with either treatment. Both treatments were well tolerated. There was a low incidence of adverse events that tended to be mild and included headache, muscular pain, angina, and dyspepsia. The frequency of adverse events was similar in both treatment groups, and no significant differences in dietary behavior were observed. In conclusion, fluvastatin is a well tolerated 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia. Effects of fluvastatin on LpA-I occur irrespective of changes in HDL-C.
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PMID:Treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia: fluvastatin versus bezafibrate. 801 68

Fluvastatin sodium (Lescol; Sandoz) the first entirely synthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor studied, is structurally distinct from the other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors currently available, all of which are fungal metabolites and analogues of compactin. Fluvastatin's distinct structure may be responsible for the biopharmaceutical properties that result in its low systemic exposure and, subsequently, low incidence of peripheral adverse events, such as headache and myositis. Fluvastatin is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract; has a 30-minute half-life, the shortest of any currently available HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (lovastatin, 15 hours; pravastatin, 2 hours; simvastatin, 15.6 hours); is highly selective for the liver, undergoing extensive first-pass metabolism; has no active circulating metabolites; and does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier, unlike lovastatin and simvastatin. The low systemic exposure suggests that the occurrence of peripheral adverse events, such as myositis, central nervous system effects, and drug-drug interactions, may be less than what is currently observed with other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Neither niacin nor propranolol had an effect on fluvastatin plasma levels when combined with fluvastatin. In contrast to other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, fluvastatin in combination with niacin resulted in no instances of myositis or other serious adverse events. Although the interaction of fluvastatin with cholestyramine resulted in a lower rate and extent of fluvastatin bioavailability, this reduction had no impact on clinical efficacy. Fluvastatin administered to patients chronically receiving digoxin had no effect on the area under the curve (AUC) of digoxin compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Clinical implications of the biopharmaceutical properties of fluvastatin. 819 18

Clinical experience with fluvastatin in > 1,800 North American patients treated for an average of 61 weeks has shown it to be safe and well tolerated. Frequencies of transaminase and creatine kinase elevations compare favorably with those observed during long-term administration of other 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors. Further, whereas frank rhabdomyolysis has been encountered with treatment with all other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, this syndrome has not been observed to date with fluvastatin in studies here or abroad; a single case of myopathy, which was probably related to physical exertion, was reported in a patient receiving fluvastatin. Although dyspepsia was observed more commonly in fluvastatin patients the incidence, along with that of other adverse events (e.g., headache), and the number of treatment discontinuations proved statistically indistinguishable from those of placebo controls. Whether the favorable safety profile of fluvastatin is related to this synthetic agent's unique biopharmaceutical profile is a matter of ongoing long-term inquiry.
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PMID:Updated clinical safety experience with fluvastatin. 819 19

To investigate energy metabolism in migraine, we determined platelet mitochondrial enzyme activities in 40 patients with migraine with aura and in 40 patients with migraine without aura during attack-free intervals and in 24 healthy control subjects. NADH-dehydrogenase, citrate synthase and cytochrome-c-oxidase activities in both patient groups were significantly lower than in controls (p < 0.01), while NADH-cytochrome-c-reductase activity was reduced only in migraine with aura (p < 0.01). No alteration in succinate-dehydrogenase was observed. Monoamine-oxidase activity differed between sexes (p < 0.05) but within each sex group no difference was observed between patients and controls. We hypothesize that the defect in mitochondrial enzymes observed indicates a systemic impairment of mitochondrial function in migraine patients.
Cephalalgia 1994 Feb
PMID:Abnormal platelet mitochondrial function in patients affected by migraine with and without aura. 820 18

This study examined the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of atorvastatin, an investigational inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, in 50 healthy subjects by means of a randomized, double-blind parallel-group design. Volunteers received rising single and multiple doses of 0.5 to 80 mg/day atorvastatin (40 subjects) or placebo (10 subjects). The drug was administered once or twice daily for 14 days. Atorvastatin was well tolerated by healthy subjects. The most common adverse events reported after atorvastatin-headache and nausea-occurred as frequently after placebo. Atorvastatin peak concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) values increased more than proportionally with atorvastatin dose after both single and multiple drug doses. The extent of atorvastatin absorption (AUC) was similar after once- or twice-daily drug administration. Steady-state drug concentrations were achieved by the third day of drug dosing. Mean elimination half-life values ranged from 11 to 24 hours. Atorvastatin accumulation was approximately 1.5- and 3.0-fold after once- and twice-daily administration, respectively. Atorvastatin produced dose-related reductions in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol that were similar after once- and twice-daily drug administration. Reductions in mean total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values ranged from 13% and 22% (2.5 mg/day) to 45% and 58% (80 mg/day), respectively (p < or = 0.0013 in comparison with placebo and with baseline over this dose range). In summary, atorvastatin doses of up to 80 mg/day were well tolerated and had significant cholesterol-lowering effects.
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PMID:Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of atorvastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, in healthy subjects. 898 72

Approximately 25% of men over 40 or 50 suffer from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The bothersomeness of the symptoms varies considerably from one individual to the other and can fluctuate with time. Symptoms tend to gradually worsen as time goes on through. Surprisingly, there appears to be no particular relationship between symptoms and the overall prostate size and weight. Symptoms of BPH are divided in obstructive (voiding) and irritative (storage) symptoms, of which the irritative are the most bothersome. Until recently, surgery (open or transurethral resection) was the only treatment option. Nowadays, a range of less invasive treatments and pharmacological therapies are available to relieve BPH symptoms. Finasteride, for instance, reduces the prostate size by blocking 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme which plays a role in the growth of the prostate. It takes however a long time before a clinically significant effect is noticed: +/- 6 to 12 months. Then, there are alpha 1-blockers. These agents result in relaxation of prostatic and bladder neck smooth muscle. alpha 1-blockers act relatively fast. Most alpha 1-blockers used in the treatment of symptomatic BPH were originally developed to treat hypertension. The adverse events most commonly associated with alpha 1-blockers, such as dizziness, headache, asthenia, tachycardia/palpitation, postural hypotension and syncope are possibly related to the blood pressure lowering effect. This stimulated the search for more selective alpha-blockers which act predominantly on the prostate and have less effect on the blood levels (afluzosin: Xatral and tamsulosin: Omic). Presently, alpha-blockers have become the first-line drugs in the medical treatment of symptomatic BPH. Surgery (open or TURP) is limited to patients with recurrent infections, large residue (> 200 ml), recurrent hematuria, bladder stones. New alternative and minimally invasive treatment such as TUNA generate necrotic lesions within the prostate through needle introduced endoscopically. This leads also to marked improvement in patients symptomatology.
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PMID:[Benign hypertrophy of the prostate: which treatment, for whom?]. 1052 95

Elevated levels of serum lipids and lipoproteins are known to play a major role in the development of atherosclerosis and subsequent coronary heart disease (CHD). In controlled clinical studies, atorvastatin (Sortis), a new 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA)-reductase inhibitor, proved to be a very effective and safe lipid-lowering agent. The aim of this open-label, multicentre study (without a control group) was to confirm the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin in a private practice group, including 181 Swiss cardiologists, internists, and general practitioners. A total of 877 hyperlipidaemic patients requiring treatment participated in this study. To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment with atorvastatin over a period of 12 weeks, total plasma cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) were determined every 4 weeks. The initial atorvastatin dose was 10 mg in 78% of patients and 20 mg in 22%. The dose was doubled every 4 weeks until the target values of TC < or = 5.2 mmol/l and TC/HDL < or = 5 were reached. After 12 weeks of treatment with atorvastatin the mean reduction in TC, TC/HDL, LDL and TG compared to baseline levels was 33, 37, 42, and 25% respectively. At the same time the HDL concentration was increased by 9%. These results were evidenced in patients with existing coronary heart disease, in high risk patients without manifest coronary heart disease and in patients with significantly elevated lipid levels (TC > 7.8 mmol/l, TC/HDL > 6.5). After treatment with atorvastatin for 12 weeks, 59% of patients had reached the therapeutic target of TC < or = 5.2 mmol/l. The target of TC/HDL < or = 5 was reached by 79%. Atorvastatin was almost without exception well tolerated, the most frequently reported side effects being nausea, myalgia, and headache. In this open-label multicentre study atorvastatin was found to be effective and well tolerated. The observed reduction in the lipid and lipoprotein concentration is in accordance with the results of published controlled studies. The lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were decreased significantly in patients with slight to moderate elevation of lipid levels as well as in those with significantly raised values.
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PMID:[Evaluating the efficacy and tolerance of atorvastatin in hyperlipidemia in general practice (SWITCH Study)]. 1089 90

Fluvastatin sodium (Lescol, Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp., East Hanover, NJ, U.S.A.), a potent 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG Co-A) reductase inhibitor that limits cholesterol biosynthesis, is available as a 40-mg immediate-release formulation capsule. An extended-release formulation for once-daily administration has been developed for patients with primary hypercholesterolemia who may benefit from doses higher than 40 mg/day. This phase I study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of a new fluvastatin extended-release formulation at doses ranging from 80-640 mg/day in 40 hypercholesterolemic patients. After a 2-week dietary stabilization phase, patients (Fredrickson type IIa/IIb), 18-55 years of age, were randomly assigned to four groups to receive oral fluvastatin extended-release (80, 160, 320, or 640 mg) or matching placebo once daily for 13 days. Fluvastatin extended-release was generally safe and well tolerated at doses of 80-320 mg/day. Within this dose range, linear pharmacokinetics was observed after single and multiple dosing. At 640 mg, fluvastatin extended-release was not well tolerated. Six of the seven actively treated patients at this dose experienced adverse events, including diarrhea, headache, and clinically relevant elevations in serum transaminase concentrations. In addition, nonlinear pharmacokinetics, possibly due to saturation of first-pass metabolism, was observed at this dose, causing higher than expected serum drug concentrations. Once-daily administration of fluvastatin extended-release at doses of 80-320 mg/day was generally safe and well tolerated in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia over a 13-day dosing period.
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PMID:Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of an extended-release formulation of fluvastatin administered once daily to patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. 1133 1


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