Earlier this week, we noted that an FDA panel meets today to review the merits of allowing consumers to buy Merck’s Mevacor without a prescription. This marks the third time in eight years that Merck is asking an FDA panel for permission to sell its cholesterol-lowering med on an OTC basis. If the panel and the agency agree, Mevacor would become the first over-the-counter statin, the biggest-selling class of meds.

Merck argues that untold millions of Americans susceptible to heart disease and stroke who aren’t taking a statin could receive health benefits, especially since many people don’t think about their cholesterol levels if they don’t feel sick. But not everyone agrees an OTC pill is best. An FDA medical reviewer wrote in briefing documents that she isn’t convinced “there is adequate consumer comprehension of the proposed product label to ensure safe and effective use of this product.”

So we asked what you think, and a solid majority aren’t convinced. Caveat: this is not a scientific poll. Rather, this is more of a temperature reading, but still, it provides some insight into current thinking. (Stay tuned. The FDA panel will vote later today and we will bring you the results).

Question: Do you think an OTC cholesterol pill is a good idea:

No - 88 votes, or 59 percent;
Yes - 62 votes, or 41 percent.

Total voting - 150