ABSTRACT
To find out see the effect on lipid parameters by using a combination of the two drugs. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in conformance with good clinical practices and consisted of 2 phases: A total of 39 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either simvastatin alone or a combination of simvastatin plus ezetimibe. It was conducted at Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi from July 2008 to September 2008. Mean baseline total cholesterol ranged from 5.29 to 8.87 mmol/ L. The results indicated that the total cholesterol levels reduced significantly [p <0.05] from the baseline when patients were given 10 mg Simvastatin. Upon reduction of dose of simvastatin to 5 mg and addition of ezetimibe 10 mg, the levels of total cholesterol reduced even further [p<0.05]. Similar results were seen with triglyceride levels [p<0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference in LDL-C levels from the baseline with the use of simvastatin 10 mg alone. However coadministration of ezetimibe [10mg] to simvastatin [5mg] caused a statistically significant reduction in LDL-C levels from the baseline. There was no effect on HDL-C, ALT, blood glucose levels. The pilot study confirmed the effectiveness of ezetimbe in lowering total cholesterol and LDL-C levels in combination with reduced doses of simvastatin. Ezetimibe should be considered an effective lipid-lowering agent that can be used in conjunction with simvastatin at the beginning of therapy, or included in the treatment of patients who do not achieve their total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal with statins alone