Vascepa is a prescription medication that contains the active ingredient eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which is an omega-3 fatty acid. It is used to treat high levels of triglycerides in the blood, which is a type of fat that can increase the risk of heart disease. Statins, on the other hand, are a group of medications that are used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
There is limited information available on how Vascepa affects statin effectiveness. According to Drug Patent Watch [1], there are no known drug interactions between Vascepa and statins. This suggests that taking Vascepa alongside statins should not affect the effectiveness of the statins.
However, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology [3] suggests that adding Vascepa to statin therapy may provide additional benefits for patients with high triglyceride levels. The study found that patients who took both Vascepa and a statin had greater reductions in triglyceride levels compared to those who only took a statin. Additionally, the combination therapy was well-tolerated and did not cause any significant adverse effects.
Another study published in the American Journal of Cardiology [2] found that adding Vascepa to statin therapy improved certain markers of cardiovascular health, such as reducing inflammation and improving endothelial function. However, the study did not evaluate the effect of the combination therapy on cholesterol levels.
In summary, there is limited information available on how Vascepa affects statin effectiveness. While there are no known drug interactions between the two medications, some studies suggest that adding Vascepa to statin therapy may provide additional benefits for patients with high triglyceride levels. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of combining these medications.
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/VASCEPA
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5838559/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4350654/