An established group of doctors - many part of the same group that first exposed the risks associated with Vioxx - has published an austere warning on the cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia in the New England Journal of Medicine. About 4 million Americans currently take the drugs, accounting for $5 billion in sales last year alone for the pharmaceutical companies Merck (Vytorin) and Schering-Plough (Zetia).

At the moment, no evidence exists to show that Vytorin and Zetia help patients…The drugs could even be harmful.

- Yale University cardiologist Dr. Harlan Krumholz

The doctors involved with the study say that there is no evidence showing the drugs can slow the buildup of plaque in the arteries and in fact, may speed it up. They are now recommending that doctors not prescribe the drugs, unless used as a ‘last resort.’ This is obviously a very troublesome blow for Merck and Schering-Plough, who were quick to respond that they would continue to market the drugs as they have been.

This is yet another instance that demonstrates the much bigger problem of pharmaceutical companies that put the health and well-being of millions of people on the line in order to maximize profit on their drugs. As we have seen with Vioxx and others, there is much cause for scrutiny and caution. We will continue to monitor this case. If you are currently taking Vytorin or Zetia, please consult with your doctor as to whether you should continue taking these drugs.

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