Initial dietary and lifestyle measures taken to control dyslipidemia are often inadequate, and most patients require pharmacologic intervention. Currently, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are the first-line monotherapies most often prescribed to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, after diet and therapeutic lifestyle change. However, with statin monotherapy, many patients fail to reach National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III recommended levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction. As a result, the statin dosage must be increased or an additional treatment added to achieve treatment goals. Increasing the statin dosage may result in decreased tolerability and potential safety concerns, contributing to the high discontinuation rates of statins and their prescription at low and often ineffective doses. Further, although the effectiveness of increasing the dose varies among the statins, in general, doubling of the dose above the minimum effective dose has been found to decrease serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by only an additional 6 percent.