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EPANOVA Approved by the FDA for Use in US Adults with Hypertriglyceridemia
- Updated: May 6, 2014
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the drug EPANOVA in adult patients in the USA with severe hypertriglyceridemia. EPANOVA is an omega-3 carboxylic acid that can be used in conjunction with dietary changes to reduce the amount of triglycerides in the blood. It is the first time omega-3 has been approved for prescription in a free fatty acid format. The drug can now be prescribed to adults who can be given dosages that can be as low as two capsules of EPANOVA per day, taken with or without food.
Severe hypertriglyceridemia is a condition where very high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, are present in the blood. It can cause a number of serious complications, which can end up being life threatening. By reducing the levels of triglycerides using a combination of a diet and the EPANOVA caplets, it is thought that the condition can be reversed more quickly than by dieting alone. EPANOVA would always be prescribed along with a recommended diet suitable for the patient.
An estimated 4 million adults in the USA are believed to have severe hypertriglyceridemia, and because it is associated with conditions that are on the rise such as diabetes and obesity, the number is likely to continue to increase should the trend in these associated conditions also continue. This new method of treatment could therefore help a vast number of people regain healthy triglyceride levels and reduce serious risks to their health.
