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Can Praluent Be Taken While Having Statin Intolerance?
Question: Thank you for answering my last question. It helped. My main concern now is a new cholesterol drug my cardiologist wants me to start on very soon called Praluent. The manufacturer sent me some information on it that says there could be some serious side effects (that could cause hospitalization.) Since I can not tolerate statins because they affect my head and one almost gave me a stroke (that no one believes) and they damage my liver I wanted to ask for your opinion on this new drug. Thank you very much.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your clinical situation and would explain that Praluent is a drug of a different class from statins.
Based on the fact that it belongs to a different pharmacological class, it has a different mechanism of action and different adverse effects compared to the statins.
It is usually prescribed when statins are contraindicated or non tolerated or when their effect in not very high (especially in congenital dyslipidemia).
It does not impair the liver or renal function and there is no case report on any possible stroke related to Praluent intake.
It can cause rare adverse effects like allergic reactions, musculo-skeletal pain, flu-like symptoms and it can lead to the creation of antibodies against this drug, leading to loss of function after a certain period of time (less than 4%). All these adverse effects have been encountered in less than 7 % of the persons taking it for a prolonged time.
The only adverse effect which can lead to hospitalization is allergic reaction. But every drug can potentially cause an allergic reaction. You should just monitor the first days after starting it.
So relax! There is not potential serious adverse effect of this drug, which can impose contraindication for you to use it.
I agree with your doctor in prescribing this drug, as you can not use statins and you are at a high cardio-vascular risk. It think it is worth trying it in your clinical situation.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your clinical situation and would explain that Praluent is a drug of a different class from statins.
Based on the fact that it belongs to a different pharmacological class, it has a different mechanism of action and different adverse effects compared to the statins.
It is usually prescribed when statins are contraindicated or non tolerated or when their effect in not very high (especially in congenital dyslipidemia).
It does not impair the liver or renal function and there is no case report on any possible stroke related to Praluent intake.
It can cause rare adverse effects like allergic reactions, musculo-skeletal pain, flu-like symptoms and it can lead to the creation of antibodies against this drug, leading to loss of function after a certain period of time (less than 4%). All these adverse effects have been encountered in less than 7 % of the persons taking it for a prolonged time.
The only adverse effect which can lead to hospitalization is allergic reaction. But every drug can potentially cause an allergic reaction. You should just monitor the first days after starting it.
So relax! There is not potential serious adverse effect of this drug, which can impose contraindication for you to use it.
I agree with your doctor in prescribing this drug, as you can not use statins and you are at a high cardio-vascular risk. It think it is worth trying it in your clinical situation.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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