Medical News Summary: Manufacturers of cholesterol drugs seek non-prescription status

About: Manufacturers of cholesterol drugs seek non-prescription status
Date: 27 December 2004
Source: USA Today
Author: Julie Appleby
Medical News Summary (summary of medical news story as reported by USA Today): Merck is to make a second attempt to have the FDA approve it’s cholesterol drug, Mevacor, for over-the-counter use. Bristol-Myers Squibb is seeking the same thing for its cholesterol drug, Pravachol. However, the FDA wants reassurance that people will use the drug responsibility. The cholesterol drug Zocor already has approval in the UK for over-the-counter sales. Some doctors believe the over-the-counter medication should be reserved for short-term, easily diagnosed conditions and not chronic conditions like high cholesterol which have virtually no symptoms.
URL: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-12-27-merck-usat_x.htm
Related Disease Topics: High cholesterol

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Related Medical News Channels: This medical news summary article refers to the following medical channel categories:

• Medication
• medication and high cholesterol

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