A study published in Wednesday's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that the cholesterol fighting medication Pravachol is ineffective against heart disease. The Federal study, known as Allhat, analyzed patients with high blood pressure over a period of eight years. According to researchers, Pravachol failed to reduce heart attacks or other side effects of heart disease when compared to patients who received "usual care" (usually a low-cholesterol diet without the use of a statin).

Despite the study's findings, physicians say Pravachol is still beneficial, as most patients reported drops in bad cholesterol levels when taking the medication. Statins have been a major concern in the medical community since Baycol was pulled from the market in 2001.