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BMJ Case Reports 2009; doi:10.1136/bcr.05.2009.1875
  • Unexpected outcome (positive or negative) including adverse drug reactions

Improvement in sleep apnoea associated with switch from simvastatin to pravastatin

  1. Stephanie Cham1,
  2. Komaldeep Gill1,
  3. Sabrina Koperski1,
  4. Beatrice Alexandra Golomb2
  1. 1
    University of California, San Diego, Department of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California, 92093-0995, USA
  2. 2
    University of California, San Diego, Department of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California, 92093-0995, USA
  1. Beatrice Alexandra Golomb, bgolomb{at}ucsd.edu
  • Published 1 September 2009

Summary

Sleep problems have been reported as an adverse effect of statins. In a randomised trial, simvastatin at 20 mg produced significantly worse sleep quality than either placebo or pravastatin 40 mg. A possible relation to sleep apnoea was hypothesised. Here, the case of a 67-year-old man who experienced sleep apnoea on simvastatin 20 mg is presented. Objective nightly testing showed a prompt, marked, sustained and statistically significant improvement in the obstructive apnoea index when the patient switched to pravastatin 20 mg.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Patient consent: Patient/guardian consent was obtained for publication.

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