Don't gamble with cholesterol!

Whenever you read an article or advertisement about any medication, especially a prescription drug, there is always the cautionary note, "Ask your doctor if (name of drug) is right for you." One important reason for that is because, while every new pharmaceutical must meet stringent testing criteria before it can be approved by the FDA, certain drugs can react differently in some people than in others, and physicians are trained to make the right decisions in such matters.

Even in the case of so-called similar pharmaceuticals that are used to treat the same health problems -- or brand name drugs versus generics -- there can be differences in the results. Take the case of statins, which are prescription drugs used to lower the level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), the "bad cholesterol" in the body that is one of the main causes of heart disease. Crestor is a leading drug prescribed by physicians for this purpose. In fact, it is one of the top ten most successful prescription drugs in theU.S., and a research study comparing Crestor versus three other leading prescription drugs on cholesterol patients demonstrates the difference that is possible in results with patients. After six weeks in a clinical trial of 2,240 patients, the patients who were taking 20 mg doses of Crestor had a 52% lower level in their LDL "bad" cholesterol. Compare that to the following: Patients who took 20 mg doses of drug B had 24% lower levels of LDL. Patients who took 20 mg doses of drug C had 35% lower levels of LDL.  Patients who took 20 mg doses of drug D had 43% lower levels of LDL. Clearly, not all drugs achieved the same results.

Patients who have cholesterol problems would do well to keep that in mind when they hear the news that the manufacturer of Crestor, AstraZeneca, has just announced a special Crestor savings offer. Anyone who has a prescription for Crestor can visit the website MyRxCoupons.com and print out a free coupon that will be worth a savings of up to $50 for each prescription and refill up to 12 times a year. This represents very little more than the average price of a generic, and the eligibility is clearly explained on the website. MyRxCoupons.com is the website exclusively dedicated to providing coupons, copay cards, rebates and other money-saving offers for prescription drugs and other health-related pharmacy items for millions of American families.