Side-Effects Cause A Quarter Of Heart Patients To Stop Treatment In The HPS2-THRIVE Trial
The largest randomised study of the vitamin niacin in patients with occlusive arterial disease (narrowing of the arteries) has shown a significant increase in adverse side-effects when it is combined with statin treatment. Results from the HPS2-THRIVE study (Heart Protection Study 2 - Treatment of HDL to Reduce the Incidence of Vascular Events), including the reasons patients stopped the study treatment, were published online yesterday (Wednesday) in the European Heart Journal [1]... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - March 1, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cholesterol Source Type: news

Niacin-statin combo tied to skin, muscle side effects
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - One-quarter of people taking niacin and statins as part of a four-year-long heart study dropped out early, often for medical reasons tied to niacin's side effects, a new study suggests. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - February 27, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news

Niacin-Statin Combo Tied to Skin, Muscle Side Effects
One-quarter of people taking niacin and statins as part of a four-year-long heart study dropped out early, often for medical reasons tied to niacin's side effects, a new study suggests.Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Pages: B Vitamins, Cholesterol, Statins (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Source: MedlinePlus Health News - February 27, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Side Effects Dim Niacin Promise (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) -- A highly significant increase in adverse events, in particular myopathy, appears to have been a driving force behind the decision to shut down a pivotal trial of Tredaptive, the agent that many hoped would improve niacin tolerance. (Source: MedPage Today Cardiovascular)
Source: MedPage Today Cardiovascular - February 27, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news

Niacin Adverse Events in HPS2-THRIVENiacin Adverse Events in HPS2-THRIVE
Extended-release niacin and laropiprant added to simvastatin were associated with a significantly increased risk of definite myopathy. Interestingly, the risk of myopathy was significantly higher in randomized patients from China than in patients from Europe. Heartwire (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - February 27, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cardiology News Source Type: news

Muscle, skin and gastrointestinal problems cause a quarter of patients with heart disease and strokes to stop treatment in HPS2-THRIVE trial
The largest randomised study of the vitamin niacin in patients with occlusive arterial disease (narrowing of the arteries) has shown a significant increase in adverse side-effects when it is combined with statin treatment.  Results from the study, including the reasons patients stopped the study treatment, were just published in the EHJ.  Read more Topics: Cardiovascular Disease Prevention - Risk Assessment and Management (Source: ESC News and Press)
Source: ESC News and Press - February 27, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news

Niacin-Statin Combo May Cause Side Effects for Heart Patients
Title: Niacin-Statin Combo May Cause Side Effects for Heart PatientsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 2/26/2013 8:35:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 2/27/2013 12:00:00 AM (Source: MedicineNet Heart General)
Source: MedicineNet Heart General - February 27, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news

Coming Attraction: First Look At What Went Wrong With Niacin
In a few weeks, on March 9, the main results of the HPS2-THRIVE (Heart Protection Study 2-Treatment of HDL to Reduce the Incidence of Vascular Events) study will be presented in San Francisco at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. These results have been eagerly awaited since Merck's brief announcement in December that the trial had not met its primary endpoint and that it would no longer pursue approval of Tredaptive, the combination of extended-release niacin and laropiprant, in the US. The trial was designed to assess whether adding t...
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - February 27, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Larry Husten Source Type: news

HPS2-THRIVE: High myopathy risk with niacin/laropiprant
Extended-release niacin and laropiprant added to simvastatin were associated with a significantly increased risk of definite myopathy. Interestingly, the risk of myopathy was significantly higher in randomized patients from China than in patients from Europe. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - February 27, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news

Niacin-Statin Combo May Cause Side Effects for Heart Patients
Study found that about one-quarter of participants dropped the vitamin due to adverse effects Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Drug Reactions, Heart Diseases, Statins (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Source: MedlinePlus Health News - February 27, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

MHRA Drug Safety Update: TredaptiveT (niacin-laropiprant) no longer recommended for prescribing
Source: MHRA Area: News The January issue of the MHRA's Drug Safety Update has featured new data from a long-term study (HPS2-THRIVE) involving over 25 000 patients which indicated that adding TredaptiveT (fixed dose niacin-laropiprant) to simvastatin did not provide significant additional benefit in reducing the risk of major vascular events compared with statin therapy alone. In addition, a higher frequency of bleeding (intracranial and gastro-intestinal), myopathy, infections and new-onset diabetes was seen in patients taking Tredaptive with simvastatin, compared with patients taking simvastatin alone.   In l...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - January 30, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news

Trials Of Niacin And Atrial Fibrillation Device Will Headline American College Of Cardiology Program
Two big trials will highlight this year's American College of Cardiology meeting in March in San Francisco. First is the PREVAIL trial testing Boston Scientific's long-anticipated Watchman left atrial appendage closure device for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. Second is  the detailed presentation of the controversial failed HPS2-THRIVE trial of extended-release niacin and laropiprant. The final list of trials has been posted on the ACC website. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - January 22, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Larry Husten Source Type: news

Niacin/Laropiprant Products to Be Withdrawn in EU Next WeekNiacin/Laropiprant Products to Be Withdrawn in EU Next Week
The Committee for the Medicinal Products of Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has followed the advice of its pharmacovigilance risk assessment team and confirmed it will recommend suspension of niacin/laropiprant products. Doctors should no longer prescribe the agents, which will cease to be available in the EU as of next week. News Alerts (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - January 18, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cardiology News Alert Source Type: news

Niacin/laropiprant products to be withdrawn in EU next week
The Committee for the Medicinal Products of Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has followed the advice of its pharmacovigilance risk assessment team and confirmed it will recommend suspension of niacin/laropiprant products. Doctors should no longer prescribe the agents, which will cease to be available in the EU as of next week. (Source: theHeart.org)
Source: theHeart.org - January 18, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: news

Niacin/laropiprant products to be suspended worldwide
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended that the marketing, supply, and authorisations of three identical niacin/laropiprant products—Tredaptive, Pelzont, and Trevaclyn—for the treatment of adults with dyslipidemia be suspended across the European Union (Source: Pharmacy Europe)
Source: Pharmacy Europe - January 15, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news