Abstract

Dietary modification is the cornerstone of the management of hyperlipidaemia, but some patients will also need drug treatment.¹ In the USA nicotinic acid has been widely used, but it needs to be given in such high doses that unwanted effects are common and it is not popular in Britain. This has led to a search for analogues with equal efficacy but fewer unwanted effects. Acipimox (Olbetam – Farmitalia Carlo Erba) is claimed to be one such analogue.