Two separate studies have linked the heart drugs Lipitor (used to treat high cholesterol) and Digoxin (prescribed to patients with heart failure or abnormal heart beats) to higher risk of diabetes and breast cancer, respectively.
According to the Lipitor website, people with diabetes are advised to consult their doctor before starting Lipitor (known generically as Atorvastatin). And in 2008, research implicated Digoxin (marketed as Lanoxin and Digitek) with increased risk of breast cancer.
The Lipitor study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, involved 3,800 diabetes-free adults who had a history of stroke or transient ischemic attacks ("mini" stroke).
In one five-year trial, when compared to placebo and after considering factors, like age, weight, and smoking, Atorvastatin was linked to a 37% higher risk of diabetes.
But in other five-year trials, such as comparing Lipitor to Zocor, or a higher dose of Atorvastatin to a lower dose of the drug, the risk was much smaller; 6.4% to 5.6% and 9% to 8%, respectively. Scientists say the reason for the increases is Lipitor's effect on the body's ability to regulate blood sugar.
For the Digoxin research, which appeared in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, scientists in Denmark analyzed data on 100,000 women, ages 20 and older, who took Digoxin at some point during the 12-year study. Results showed the chance of developing breast cancer was highest in women taking Digoxin in the first five years of the study.
But after those five years, the risk dropped. However, the higher risk returned in people taking Digoxin after three or more years. Other drugs usually given in combination with Digoxin were not associated with breast cancer risk.
Researchers from both studies reiterate the importance of talking to your doctor before beginning a new drug regimen.
Image credit: Pink Sherbet Photography
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