The UK is the first country to allow statins to be sold over-the-counter. It’s inevitable that statins will be OTC in the United States when the US patent for Zocor expires in 2006. With the success of OTC Claritin and Prilosec, pushing medications to OTC status will allow drug companies to continue reaping profits after patent expiration.
Risks of elevated liver enzymes, muscle aches, as well as people self-diagnosing themselves with hypercholesterolemia needs to be weighed against the benefits of statins: namely the lowered risk of heart attack and stroke for people at risk.
