Repatha and Praluent
Repatha and Praluent are two prescription medications used to treat high cholesterol. They work by blocking a protein called PCSK9, responsible for increasing cholesterol levels in the body. In addition both Repatha and Praluent have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
What Is Praluent?
Praluent, is a prescription drug also known under the name of its active ingredient alirocumab, is used to lower cholesterol, but it can also be used to reduce the risk of certain heart and blood vessel problems.
Praluent belongs to the group of drugs called PCSK9 inhibitors, a novel class of cholesterol-lowering medications. These drugs are genetically bioengineered from parts of living organisms.
In particular, Praluent is used to decrease the risk of heart attacks, stroke and unstable angina (or chest pain) in adults suffering from cardiovascular conditions. In addition, it helps to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol[1, 2]. This is particularly important for people who have high cholesterol caused for instance by homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or primary hyperlipidemia [1, 2].
Praluent is administered as a liquid solution and is injected under the skin. The dosage can differ and so can the frequency of its administration. Always consult with your health provider to adjust the dosage according to your individual needs [3].
What is Repatha?
Repatha, which is also known under its generic name evolocumab, is a prescription medicine. This drug is used to lower cholesterol levels and to decrease serious heart related risks [4].
Repatha is made out of parts of living organisms [4].
Sometimes, Repatha can be used to decrease the risk of heart attack or stroke and may help decrease the need for heart surgery.
It can also be prescribed for certain coditions to decrease low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults and children. Sometimes it is also prescribed together with a recommended low fat diet.
Repatha also comes as a liquid solution and gets injected under the skin. It is available in three forms as a single-dose prefilled syringe, a single-dose prefilled auto-injector or as a single-dose prefilled cartridge in the pushtronex system [6, 7].
Parulent vs Repatha: Differences and Similarities
The main similarity between Praluent and Repatha is that both of these drugs are from the group of drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors. Hence, both of these drugs are made of parts of living organisms.
They also share similarities in they actions, as both of them are used to lower cholesterol levels in adults and also reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with cardiovascular problems [2, 4].
Both Praluent and Repatha are in form of a liquid solution and need to be injected under the skin. However, they have some differences, including their dosages and side effects [2, 4].
They also have a different active ingredient. While Repatha works because of the active ingredient called the evolocumab, Praluent contains of alirocumab.