7 Healthcast: Over-the-Counter Cholesterol Drugs?

Terry Umans-Gough is on a very low dose of the prescription cholesterol lowering medicine Lipitor. She admits it takes time following up with her doctor, like getting blood tests - but she feels it's better than buying the medicine over the counter.

Terry Umans-Gough, Patient
"It would be easier, it wouldn't be smarter. There's a difference."

But should cholesterol-lowering drugs be available over the counter? That's the questions being decided in FDA hearings today. An expert panel is considering a request by the drug company Merck to sell its 20-milligram Mevacor pill over-the-counter.

Terry Umans-Gough, Patient
"I think the conversation and the guidance that I get with the doctor concomitant with the drug, is what benefits me, not simply just taking a drug over the counter."

That's because there are potential dangers with statins - like liver damage. People on statins get a blood test at least once a year to make sure their liver enzyme numbers are in a normal range.

Dr. Robert Phillips, Lenox Hill Hospital
"High cholesterol is a chronic disease and it requires monitoring. It requires blood monitoring. It require discussion with the physician about not just about the medication that you are taking but you're lifestyle and what kind of diet that you are on, and the exercise that you are doing and the physician needs to be involved. This is a partnership."

However many patients skip their doctor visits. Some say the dose is so low it wouldn't be harmful - and in some cases, may not even help.

Still some doctors say any treatment of cholesterol using a statin might have a significant impact in lowering cardiovascular disease and death rates in the U.S.

Another company - Bristol Myer's Squibb is thinking about making a similar plea to sell its popular statin Pravachol over the counter. The panel of advisers was expected to make a recommendation Friday. The FDA usually follows the advice of its scientific committee.