The combination of simvastatin and ezetimibe (Ezetrol) can cause cancer.

The media is zeroing in on an unexpected finding in the latest Vytorin study. Vytorin (simvastatin/ezetimibe) is the name of the combo drug that is sold in the U.S. The simvastatin/ezetimibe combo did not help people with aortic stenosis avoid further heart problems...but did appear to increase their risk of cancer and death.

Tell patients not to panic. Explain that this study does not PROVE there’s an increased cancer risk. Studies with statins don’t signal any risk. And there’s nothing obvious about ezetimibe’s mechanism that would link it to cancers...especially since it’s not associated with one single type of cancer.

Tell them that if a risk exists, it's extremely low.