Some over-the-counter alternative high cholesterol treatments can help - but others don't fulfill their promise.

Sales of Pravachol, a cholesterol treatment, gained 35 percent.

The purpose of the report was to compare the costs of various cholesterol treatments.

As a cholesterol treatment, niacin has strong evidence.

However, niacin is only effective as a cholesterol treatment at fairly high doses.

"Most people aren't receiving cholesterol treatment until they've had a heart attack."

Sales of Merck's biggest selling drug Zocor - a cholesterol treatment - were up 5% on the previous year to $1.36bn.

"Everyone needs to shift up one level in their intensity of cholesterol treatment," Dr. Cannon said.

The usual dose of Mevacor for cholesterol treatment is 20 milligrams to 40 milligrams a day.

Similarly, the company is checking on whether it can use the new generic version of Mevacor, an older cholesterol treatment.