Researchers study effectiveness of cholesterol drugs in real life

<br>(Anaheim, California-AP) -- Cholesterol-lowering medicines may not be working as well as they should -- but researchers say it may not be the drugs' fault. <br><br>A new study finds two-thirds

Monday, November 12th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Anaheim, California-AP) -- Cholesterol-lowering medicines may not be working as well as they should -- but researchers say it may not be the drugs' fault.

A new study finds two-thirds of people taking widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs don't get as much of a benefit as drug company statements suggest they should.

But researchers say one of the main reasons for the discrepancy could be that patients aren't taking their pills as diligently as they should.

The study's lead author says it's ``extremely difficult'' to get people to stick to a new routine. He says that includes taking pills, eating healthier food or getting more exercise -- all of which can help cut high cholesterol.

The benefits of the pills -- known as statins -- have been proven in formal studies. The research team from the Cleveland Clinic set out to learn if the medication works as well in real life as it does in those formal experiments.