Statins: Heart disease drug speeds up ageing process, warns new research

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: Express UK

Fears are growing over the side effects of cholesterol-lowering pills

Scientists have found the heart disease drug badly affects our stem cells, the internal medical system which repairs damage to our bodies and protects us from muscle and joint pain as well as memory loss.

Last night experts warned patients to “think very carefully” before taking statins as a preventative medicine.

A GP expert in the field said: “They just make many patients feel years older. Side effects mimic the ageing process.”

Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/608210/statins-age-you-faster-new-research-suggests-long-term-use-warning

---

Profitable for the medical industrial complex...maybe exercise and diet healthier alternative for the consumer.

[Dustlawyer]

1. Oh crap! No wonder I feel so bad!

Maybe that explains the Hall & Oates concert tonight and why I enjoyed it so much too!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

6. Glad you had fun!

Leave me alone, I'm a family man, and my bark is much worse than my bite!
Leave me alone, I'm a family man, if you push me too far I just might!


Good rockin' music.

[C Moon]

2. I recall reading last yr about a scientist or doctor saying we should add statins to our H20 supply

much like some states do with fluoride. :O
I know too many people who have stopped using them because of pains in legs and other muscles.

[gvstn]

49. There was definitely a push a year or two ago to use them more widely.

Even for people that had no symptoms as a preventative.

[C Moon]

69. They also kept lowering the cholesterol numbers at which point you would need to take them.

[gvstn]

75. I read the British press.

Their NHS (National Health Service) was recommending statins for most patients as a preventative.

Interesting point on lowering the numbers; obesity used to be 2x the average for a person of a certain stature. Now it is something like 1/3 over normal weight. Actuarys seem to be stating the expense of being sick to governments and the governments respond by redefining the warning signs.

I'm all for people being healthier but it just makes me mad that the government doesn't do anything about it until it is proven it costs IT money.

[Lychee2]

97. They did this for blood pressure and diabetes, too.

Before 1998, the threshold for high blood pressure was 140/90. Now it's 120/80.

Before 2000, the threshold for diabetes was 126 mg/dl. Now it's 100.

Are they "erring on the side of caution" or is this just a moneymaker? A lot of the studies that led to these changes were industry-sponsored.

[alarimer]

101. You will also have to also under certain employer "wellness" programs

If you do not, then your premiums go up.

My employer has one of these. The first year, all you have to do is name a primary care provider, fill out a questionnaire (weight, BP, cholesterol numbers, health history, etc) then have it verified by the physician. Then you get your copayments reduced or eliminated. That's all well and good, but if you choose not to participate (or, like me, hate going to the doctor), you will pay a surcharge on your health insurance. Only $50 the first year, but balloons to hundreds of dollars in a few years. In addition, if you have a condition, you must agree to work to manage it. You will have to check in with a nurse or someone (I can't recall the exact details at the moment), separate from your doctor, in order to keep from being judged non-compliant and having surcharges added to your premiums. In the future (I think around 2017, so not that far in the future), they will add BMI and cholesterol to conditions that are supposed to be "managed". Never mind that, for a lot of people BMI is not that good an indicator, and that many people (myself included) do not want to be on a drug like a statin for life.

Personally, I think I'm just going to take the financial hit.

[C Moon]

102. That sounds messed up to me.

[hollysmom]

3. we) good f oou r me for losing my prescription and not wanting to see the doctor yet.

That makes me a littl e younger. But all those years of taking it. Oy

[Warpy]

4. That's of little consequence to people with cholesterol >350

and a history of family members dying of heart disease or stroke in their 30s. In such people, statins are proven life savers, extending their lives into their 70s, at least doubling the life span they could expect without them.

[Hugin]

7. Yeah, I was going to say the same thing.

Diet and exercise have very little impact on some people's cholesterol levels. In fact, I remember earlier this year, didn't the FDA or some-such announce that reducing dietary cholesterol had virtually no impact on people's blood cholesterol levels?

I have several family members who have been on statins for years and with close monitoring they haven't had any problems. It sure beats arteriosclerosis.

For now, I'm going to view this article as shock medicine click bait.

[exboyfil]

11. It worked for me

I was on statins about 2 years. It lowered my cholesterol readings. This year I have lost 85 pounds through diet and exercise. I came off statins about 4 months ago (along with high blood pressure medicine). I was in the healthy zone down the line with my cholesterol being as good as when I was on statins and my triglycerides are way down.

My 18 year old daughter is on statins, and it is a concern for me. I am trying to get her to take up rowing. That has been the single biggest change for me. I now row 1 to 1/2 hours everyday.

Everybody is different, but I would be hesitant to exclude diet and exercise from the equation. I only came off statins after consultation with my doctor, and I have had three blood tests since I did.

[Jesus Malverde]

17. Congrats on the weight loss

An amazing feat!

[Hugin]

36. Congratulations!

Your weight loss and fitness achievement is impressive! Keep it going, dude!

Above, I was only talking about some people and blood cholesterol. There's no doubt that exercise and diet have a profound effect on other areas of fitness! I once trimmed off 30 pounds and it reduced both my blood pressure and heart rate by significant amounts.

That said, my cholesterol has always been borderline and several of my relatives have always had very high cholesterol. In fact, one is a fitness buff, but, sky high cholesterol.

He has had to be on statins for over 20 years and always has his blood checked three or four times year.

Which reminds me of another topic. I really wonder if the pharmaceutical statins are too strong. I've always wondered if choosing foods with a high statin level wouldn't be a better approach.

[Jesus Malverde]

71. Which is it?

Diet and exercise have very little impact on some people's cholesterol levels.

Or

I've always wondered if choosing foods with a high statin level wouldn't be a better approach.

[Hugin]

79. There's no confusion.

I've been very clear.

1) Diet as in "eating less cholesterol" has very little to do with blood cholesterol levels in SOME people. As is substantiated by several posts below mine.

2) Exercise, while wildly beneficial for other health concerns, is also by itself an ineffective means of controlling cholesterol in those same SOME people.

3) Natural statins are available from several foods. This is not to be confused with "dieting". If you have high cholesterol choosing to add foods which provide natural statins may be enough to control your cholesterol.

4) It's a matter of triage. Are the threats posed by the amorphous and poorly defined "early aging" as promoted by this article, greater than the real and well documented life shortening threats posed by arteriosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke?

[yeoman6987]

52. 18-year old daughter on statins? Is that a misprint?

I never thought they would put the young on those medications.

[exboyfil]

58. No.

She started taking it at 17. I am in the process of doing additional research. I would very much like to get her off of it.

I don't have the numbers prior to the statins, but she is at 248 (151 LDL) now with them.

[Warpy]

12. Diet is responsible for about 10% of a person's cholesterol load

The rest is manufactured in the liver and we'd die without it.

Having said that, some dietary changes work better than others, like adding whole oats to the diet. That is proven to lower cholesterol more than eliminating animal fats in the diet does, but the response varies widely from person to person.

And I agree about this article, pure click bait. However, doctors need to look more closely at prescribing it for anyone with a reasonable cholesterol reading. It should probably be used to treat high levels, not prevent them. Too many people react badly to a statin drug.

[FlaGranny]

30. Some peoples' high cholesterol

is because their HDL is high, but LDL is in the good range. Most physicians will give statins to lower the total cholesterol. Some doctors take the ratio into account. If total cholesterol is just a little bit high, say 240 or so, but the LDL is not high, then they don't prescribe statins. More physicians should consider the ratio, in my humble opinion. People who have familial hypercholesterolemia are a totally different category. The statins probably save their lives.

Diet and exercise alone will "cure" many people. I have brought my blood pressure and cholesterol down to normal levels with that approach and I believe most people could do that too.

[Warpy]

61. They're prescribing statins for people with normal cholesterol

but who have a positive family history of heart disease. This is what might not be a good idea since the drugs aren't 100% benign.

Look up "rhabdomyolysis" to find out why they're not for everyone.

[FlaGranny]

108. I know what rhabdomyolysis is and

it's not good. Who wants their muscles to disintegrate inside their body. My cousin's doctor is badgering her to take statins. She showed me her lab results. Her ratio shows a low risk and triglycerides are good, although her total cholesterol is about 220. Not only that - she is a healthy 79 year old, takes no meds. BP, glucose and everything else are normal. She did agree to try 2 different kinds and she stopped each of them almost immediately because of the side effects. She says she will not try them again. It's crazy to have someone like her start statins.

That brought to mind my mother who died at age 94. Her heart was strong, normal glucose and her blood pressure was 115/65 average Her doctors put her on a low sodium, low fat diet. She died from multiple myeloma. Some doctors don't use common sense

[Hugin]

39. Yeah, oats work great!

I've often wondered if most "cholesterol problems" especially for people on the borderline couldn't be better regulated through eating foods high in natural statins. But, that's too hard. People would have to think about what they are eating. It's easier to just take a pill.

Except, for those 350> cases you brought up above. It may be that pharmaceutical statins are much too strong for most people. It wouldn't be the first time that refining and concentrating a compound has caused unintended complications.

[Sgent]

21. Dietary cholesterol

has almost no effect (less than 5%). The reason it was hammered into people was that until statin's were invented (in the 80s) there was no other way to lower cholesterol.

Note, that diet does have an effect on cholesterol, high saturated fat and even worse trans-fat diets lead to higher LDL (bad cholesterol) and high triglycerides (even worse).

Exercise also raises HDL (good cholesterol).

[StoneCarver]

25. statin's weren't invented

They are made from "red rice yeast" which have been (and still are) used by the Chinese for thousands of years. The FDA heavily regulates any claims made by red rice yeast manufacturers. This either protects us -or the pharmaceuticals. I believe Warpy is correct and while there are side effects, it is click bait.
Stonecarver

[still_one]

53. that is simply misinformation. in fact there have been recent incidence of

red rice yeast sellers spiking their product with mevacor

[stuffmatters]

89. My doctor(Scripps Hospital,tops in San Diego) prescribed red yeast rice

I think it's become a more mainstream medical prescription.

[FlaGranny]

32. Agree that dietary

cholesterol has little effect, but agree that diet certainly does.

[Hugin]

40. Yay, for more HDL!

Exercise is good for so many things.

[womanofthehills]

50. Niacin has a big impact on lowering cholesterol

Some of the statin drugs are combined with Niacin. I can tell which of my friends are on statins because their memories are so bad.

I got my cholesterol down 100 points with Niacin.

[still_one]

67. You do realize that Niacin can have some very serious side effects also, just like the

statins

[nolabels]

80. Do you realize that water can have some very bad side effects?

Like when somebody drowns.

Everything in moderation (those damn Ancient Greeks again beating everybody to punch)

[still_one]

82. No one can say anything today at DU today without being belittled

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/taking-niacin-for-the-heart-may-pose-serious-health-risks/

I gave some information, and as is usual with DU, someone has to make a snide remark.

http://www.livescience.com/46839-dangers-of-niacin.html


As for your moderation, maintenance doses for Niacin to reduce cholesterol are anywhere from1 gram or more to be effective.

Have a good day doctor

[nolabels]

84. Sorry, i wasn't intending to be so snarky

That is some good information you are giving. Niacin side effects of heat flashes and the slight stomach upset is worth it though considering what it also does.

[still_one]

86. no problem, sorry I flew back also. We are really on the same side

[kwassa]

106. Niacin has no impact on lowering HDL. This is a myth.

I took Niacin for several years.

Major study:

CHICAGO --- After 50 years of being a mainstay cholesterol therapy, niacin should no longer be prescribed for most patients due to potential increased risk of death, dangerous side effects and no benefit in reducing heart attacks and strokes, writes Northwestern Medicine® preventive cardiologist Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D., in a New England Journal of Medicine editorial published July 16.

Lloyd-Jones’s editorial is based on a large new study published in the journal that looked at adults, ages 50 to 80, with cardiovascular disease who took extended-release niacin (vitamin B3) and laropiprant (a drug that reduces face flushing caused by high doses of niacin) to see if it reduced heart attack and stroke compared to a placebo over four years. All patients in the trial were already being treated with a statin medication.

Niacin did not reduce heart attacks and stroke rates compared with a placebo. More concerning, niacin was associated with an increased trend toward death from all causes as well as significant increases in serious side effects: liver problems, excess infections, excess bleeding, gout, loss of control of blood sugar for diabetics and the development of diabetes in people who didn’t have it when the study began.
- See more at: http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2014/07/niacin-too-dangerous-for-routine-cholesterol-therapy-.html#sthash.5iFif0o7.dpuf

[jwirr]

33. Better a little premature arthritis than dead. I take Crestor

an I don't know if that is a statin or not. But I have ached for years before I started taking it.

[packman]

42. My experience with Crestor was horrible

I had an A-Fib heart episode and was put on various drugs - Crestor among them. The ache and pains in my joints was acute, especially in the shoulders. Knees and ankle not as severe, but still there. Stopped taking it after consulting doctor and he put me on Lipitor (Astorvastatin) and the difference was amazing. No pain and it seemingly is effective in keeping the bad stuff under control. Would strongly advise you to check for alternative statins if Crestor is causing you problems.

[jwirr]

46. That is the problem I do not know if that is the cause. My

family ALL have arthritis in every generation. Long before Crestor was even created. I am going to talk to my doctor but I think my real problem is arthritis.

Unfortunately we did try Lipitor already and at the moment I cannot remember why we quit but I do know that I have it on my allergy list.

[roomtomove]

56. I am taking atorvastatin, ..

I was taking atorvastatin for a while wondering what caused my shoulder/muscle joint pain. Then my cholesterol was slightly higher, and the dosage was doubled. When is did some strenuous work (painting?) on my house, one of my shoulders got extremely inflamed and I tokk steroid for a few days, rather than continuously as the doc as suggested. The inflammation subsided but I still had soreness in both shoulders. I then took half the dose, and the soreness was reduced. Now I have completely stopped atorvastatin, and the soreness/pain is gone. I will look closely at my next cholesterol readings next month...........

[demigoddess]

88. I took crestor and I felt like I was going to die

and I would not have minded at all. I felt so terrible.

[GliderGuider]

41. Which is as minuscule proportion of the people that get prescribed. nt

Last edited Sun Sep 27, 2015, 03:23 PM - Edit history (1)

[still_one]

51. exactly.

[Sunlei]

5. "Scientists have found the heart disease drug badly affects our stem cells"

stem cells are the key to life

[Fearless]

8. This has been known for years

[colorado_ufo]

9. The article doesn't say that these should never be used.

There are certainly situations that demand medical intervention. What the article states is that doctors should be extremely cautious about prescribing them as a PREVENTIVE measure, for instance, the way many doctors prescribe low-dose aspirin to help prevent heart attack and stroke in some people.

[colorado_ufo]

9. The article doesn't say that these should never be used.

There are certainly situations that demand medical intervention. What the article states is that doctors should be extremely cautious about prescribing them as a PREVENTIVE measure, for instance, the way many doctors prescribe low-dose aspirin to help prevent heart attack and stroke in some people.

[Beartracks]

13. Does stopping statins reverse the "age mimicking" side-effects?

That is, are the memory loss, muscle pain, etc., reversed if the statins are stopped? The article doesn't say.

By the way, I thought it was funny that the list of side effects in the article mentions "memory loss" twice.


=====================

[6chars]

70. Great question.

I looked at the medical journal article the OP story was based on. It doesn't say because this study was done in petri dishes, but my guess is yes and no. it says statins inhibit stem cell activity, and this is actually what provides some of the protective effect in arteries. it would make sense that without the statins, the stem cell activity would be uninhibited and would go back to normal so some things that require new stem cells would get better. On the other hand, i am also guessing some irreversible aging occurs while on the statins - some things just not getting rejuvenated as they should. the paper looks at one or two particular types of stem cells, and only in vitro, so there is probably a lot more to learn. maybe some day there will be more specialized statin-type compounds that inhibit only the stem cells most associated with heart disease.

my take on it - which i had thought even before this article, is that you shouldn't be on a higher dose than needed to control the cholesterol to a reasonable level.

[bananas]

76. Yes, even reducing dosage can reverse it.

There are also supplements that can reduce the side effects.

Look around on http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/ they've been covering this for years.

[Beartracks]

93. Wow, interesting info there. Thanks. n/t

[Ed Suspicious]

14. I tried one for a few weeks. The muscle cramps I experienced were beyond belief. I could not take

it.

[packman]

44. If it was Crestor - see my post above

I suffered terrible pain also until changing to another.

[marym625]

15. Thank you!

This explains so much!

[herding cats]

16. Scaring people who suffer from real high cholesterol isn't helping anyone.

Are the drugs being over prescribed for people of moderate risk? Sure. I've seen such myself.

If a person has already tried diet and exercise changes and hasn't found a change in cholesterol levels, and they're within serious danger levels, then which is worse, a real higher risk of death or symptoms of aging? That's the real question here.

[Jesus Malverde]

18. Can you say cha-ching

That's the sound of the register makes when you make follow up visits with the doctor to sort out the mystery of statin side effects.

Kailash Chand, a doctor in the U.K., says he once brushed aside patients who complained of muscle pains, weakness, fatigue, and memory problems after he put them on cholesterol-lowering medications called statins.

Then a routine blood test showed he had high levels of some blood fats. And his own doctor put him on a statin.

"After 6 months, I started noticing that I was having a lack of energy," says Chand, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association. "My regular exercise was curtailed. I was feeling tired and exhausted."

Soon after that, he developed pain in his back so severe that it sent him to a specialist. Blood tests, X-rays, and MRI scans showed no obvious problems.

Then he happened to notice in the package insert for his medication that muscle pain might be a side effect of taking it.

http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/news/20140818/statins-side-effects-news

Specialist, MRIs, x rays, blood tests....boat payments for everyone! Yay!

Some people think healthcare is anything but a business. They sell stuff you dont need and we buy it unquestioning. It's really poor consumerism.

[Human101948]

19. Apparently the writer is on statins as well...

"They include memory loss, muscle pain, diabetes, cataracts, liver dysfunction, diabetes, fatigue and memory loss."

[madokie]

20. My wifes doctor tried to put her on Statins

a couple years ago but she said NO. Changed her diet and no longer has a cholesterol problem. She being a nurse knows all about that kind of drug and what it does to people. Makes them tired and in some cases listless

[earthside]

28. That is what got me alerted to statins.

A very few years ago I went to my doctor for my annual physical and my cholesterol was a bit high ... but not even in the 'too high' category.

He immediately started talking about getting me on statins. I liked this doctor and have good relationship with him, but even I cold tell that the words coming out of his mouth on this topic sounded like a sales pitch.

These doctors get pounded by pharmaceutical salespeople and I suppose it is no wonder that they succumb to at least some of the persuasion.

Anyway, I thought this was so odd that I started doing my layman's research on statins and quickly found out what I think is the truth about them. If you have a family history of super high bad cholesterol and are at high risk, then a regimen of statins is necessary. For 90 percent of the rest of us, statins are nothing but a cash cow for big pharma and could do some real damage to you.

There a many scientifically and medically valid alternatives to statins ... and I'm not talking 'new age' stuff, but genuinely effective ways to keep your heart healthy. Don't fall for the big pharma and American Heart Association fear mongering on this subject; do some research and make the best choice based on being fully knowledgable -- and, of course, talk to your doctor frankly about your concerns.

[Vinca]

22. The best thing to do re pharmaceuticals is to stay away from them.

It's not just statins, it's every drug. Of course a SMALL number of people need them to be healthy, but chances are you aren't one of them. I'm always suspect of drugs associated with conditions that have recently had their healthy values lowered. Most recently it has been for diabetes and, mysteriously, seemed to coincide with a "new" injectable drug taken at mealtime in addition to other drugs taken for the same condition. Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching. Values have also been lowered for cholesterol which, of course, increases the bottom line for big pharma. Cholesterol has been especially demonized. The body needs cholesterol to repair itself, but that is never mentioned. Bottom line, every living being doesn't need to take a statin drug from cradle to grave.

[Jesus Malverde]

23. .

Yep OxyContin alone gets thousands addicted and is blamed for many more thousands of deaths.

[nolabels]

81. And find some really good vitamins

My 86 year old mom got off three pharmaceuticals and lowered her blood pressure with the help of vitamins

[DFW]

24. Then I'll just have to age quicker. Too bad

After I had my stents put in, I changed my diet, etc. etc. But my genetics are what they are. My dad's parents died of heart attacks before they got to 70. My mom was killed by a stroke because her cholesterol wouldn't go down. I turned out to have 2 coronary arteries 99% blocked and was a heart attack about to happen (this was 11 years ago). I've been on statins ever since. My system doesn't break down cholesterol, period. Mother Nature had me scheduled to to depart this world on or about April 29, 2004. Two stents stopped that from immediately happening. Statins prevented it from sneaking up on me. I have to continue to take them, period. Maybe some people can get away with just changing their diet and getting more exercise. I am not one of them.

[Lyric]

35. You and me both.

My Mom and brother and I also had heart attacks in our early 30's. Me and my brother are obese, but Mom was thin her whole life. My sister is thin too, and she's starting to have angina at age 31. Apparently we have a particular genetic combination that means our bodies manufacture way too much lipoprotein A. Diet and exercise have almost no effect, so my siblings and I all take 80mg of Lipitor every day.

The sad part is that aside from the lipoprotein A number being way too high, my overall LDL isn't that bad. If I had a nice, high HDL to go along with it, I'd be in good shape. But we can't seem to change my HDL numbers, and my LDL, while relatively low, is still bad because the particles are the really tiny kind, rather than the larger, safer kind.

Just crappy genetics, according to my cardio doctor. But I am having gastric bypass surgery in two days anyway, because losing weight and restricting calorie intake as much as I can is the only thing I can do right now. It'll fix my high blood pressure, at least, and my doc is convinced that we'll see my HDL numbers go up to where they should be once I lose a bunch of weight.

All of this makes me kind of glad I only had one kid--and he didn't inherit the obesity gene, thank god. At least I didn't pass these awful genes on to three or four innocent kids.

[brett_jv]

94. Good luck, hope the surgery goes well and you get the results you hope for!

[LiberalElite]

59. My brother's mother in law

couldn't get her cholesterol down through diet, no matter what she tried.

I recall an entertaining TV commercial for a statin that showed how there are two sources of cholesterol, inherited from your family and what you eat - so, e.g., it comes from both Uncle Joe and pizza; from both Aunt Fanny and ice cream.

This is the commercial:

[blackspade]

26. More anti-medical science propaganda.

[earthside]

27. No -- more big pharma reality!

Statins are bad, bad, bad.

Except for a relatively small percentage of people with rather exceptional circumstances, statins are little but pure profit for the corporate pharmaceutical concerns.

Just do a bit of critical research on statins and it becomes clear quite quickly that there is a statin mania among doctors brought on by heavy advertising and lobbying by the statin sellers.

The pharmaceutical industry and sadly the 'American Heart Association' have joined the cholesterol fear mongering parade -- I think because it is easier to scare folks about heart disease and then just prescribe a 'magic' pill that is going to keep them alive.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/its-not-dementia-its-your-heart-medication/

http://www.drugwatch.com/lipitor/diabetes/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/opinion/dont-give-more-patients-statins.html?_r=0

[Warren Stupidity]

72. The most commonly prescribed statin is a generic

that costs very little and does not generate huge profits for anyone.

The article re-iterated well known potential side effects regarding muscle damage and soreness. It confusingly discussed some experiment on stem cells that seemed to have been a lab experiment and not a claim about evidence of adverse reactions in people.

I strongly urge people here using statins to discuss any concerns with their doctor and not act on alarmist nonsense on Internet message boards.

[Jesus Malverde]

73. Yep

This is a concerted marketing program, brought to you by the oatmeal manufactureres.



Propaganda are the phama ads you see on tv, and the sort of news you get from the likes of Nancy siderman.

[ellenrr]

29. and meanwhile...doctors urge statins for their own gain

"For example, doctors are rewarded for keeping their patients’ cholesterol and blood pressure below certain target levels. For some patients, this is good medicine, but for others the benefits may not outweigh the risks. Treatment with drugs such as statins can cause significant side effects, including muscle pain and increased risk of diabetes. Blood-pressure therapy to meet an imposed target may lead to increased falls and fractures in older patients.

Physicians who meet their designated targets are not only rewarded with a bonus from the insurer but are also given high ratings on insurer websites. Physicians who deviate from such metrics are financially penalized through lower payments and are publicly shamed, listed on insurer websites in a lower tier. Further, their patients may be required to pay higher co-payments."

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/opinion/how-medical-care-is-being-corrupted.html

[GusFring]

31. I never had issues w/ blood sugar till I took simvastatin. Then all of a sudden I had issues w/

Low blood sugar

[TexasBushwhacker]

34. I wonder if it's because of CoQ10

Your CoQ10 levels go down as you age anyway. Statins make that problem worse. If you take statins, you should be taking CoQ10.

[DavidDvorkin]

38. Yes

Causing muscle weakness. My wife takes statins and CoQ10 supplements.

[grasswire]

91. absolutely. nt

[JackRiddler]

37. These drugs started promoting side effects...

as soon as they went off patent.

A new thing everyone has to take daily is coming!

[Nye Bevan]

43. "Within a couple of weeks I went from an active 65-year-old to a doddering old man,’ as one put it"

I first became aware of the scale of this hidden epidemic of apparent statin-induced symptoms after describing in my Telegraph column the experience of a man in his seventies whose general health following the successful repair of an aortic aneurysm had gradually deteriorated to a state (as he described it) of ‘chronic decrepitude’ — such that when flying to Hawaii to attend his son’s wedding he had required a wheelchair at the various stopovers. Yet returning three weeks later he had walked back through Heathrow — having forgotten to pack the statins he had been taking since his operation.

This account of his near-miraculous recovery following his statin-free excursion prompted hundreds of letters and emails from readers describing their own similar experiences. Those who had been previously fit and well were usually quick to spot the adverse effects on their wellbeing: ‘Within a couple of weeks I went from an active 65-year-old to a doddering old man,’ as one put it. Most only realised the devastating impact of statins on their lives when advised by friends and relatives to stop taking them.

Thus the ‘bottom line’, as Professor Abramson describes it, is that for more than 95 per cent of those taking statins, they neither prolong their lives nor prevent serious illness while some may experience side effects ranging from the ‘minor and reversible to the serious and irreversible’.

http://health.spectator.co.uk/magic-bullet-or-massive-missfire/

For those with no history of heart disease, the minuscule reduction in risk of a heart attack from taking statins does not balance the risk of side-effects from these medicines, despite what big pharma would love you to think.

[BobTheSubgenius]

45. My GP told me about the guidelines for prescribing statins.

Apparently, the dosage might be higher or lower, depending on your blood panel, but whether or not to prescribe them in the first place is now on a checklist protocol, as opposed to focusing narrowly on LDL\HDL numbers. There are a number of factors (9, I believe), and if a patient has any two of them, they go on statins. One of them is age, so I'm sure they are going to become more and more ubiquitous.

[Vinca]

48. I thought big pharma had only 2 factors on the list: living and breathing.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[AngryAmish]

47. In the next few decades, much of what we know about medicine and drugs will look silly

http://www.statesmantribune.com/study-says-genes-may-be-the-reason-for-the-inuit-people-to-survive-with-fatty-diet-2/3338/

"A team of scientists claim that genes may be the reason for the Inuit people living in the Arctic to remain slim and have the world’s lowest rates of heart disease and diabetes on a high-fat diet.

The Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest diets as it involves fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and fish, according to doctors. But, the Inuit do not have access to fruits and vegetables in the cold environment of the Arctic. In fact, their food is scarce, and they are more than willing to have a fatty animal such as, a seal or a whale. And, despite their poor but high-fat diet they are incredibly slim and do not develop many of the modern-day chronic diseases."

Humans evolve a lot faster than one intuitively understands. Some populations may be helped by statins, some not. Any blanket statement about drug safety and efficacy that does not take into account the diverse spectrum of humans and their dna is doomed to be false about some people (except some thungs like vaccines and antibiotics).

Mediterranean diet works on Mediterranean folks, southeast asian low fat diets work for them (and that caused the low fat craze of the 80s) etc.

[KT2000]

55. and most drugs

were not even tested on women.
As one generation removed from Ireland - I could live on salmon and potatoes and be quite happy - and peanut M&M's of course.

[AngryAmish]

60. I meant to put not tested on women in there

You are so right.

[Nye Bevan]

54. One problem is, people hear "30% reduction in my risk of a heart attack"

and think "wonderful!" But in many cases what that means is that your risk goes from 1% to 0.7%. Which might be worth taking statins for if there were no side-effects, but as we know, this is not the case.

[LiberalElite]

57. I've been on a statin for several years

since I had a mild stroke. This article got me thinking... yeah I do feel old lately.... aches, pains, tired...

THEN I realized I"m now 7 years older and past middle age; have not been exercising; and I'm on the Junk Food White Flour Crap Diet.

THEN I remembered that I knew about the muscle pain, etc. side effects already. I get quarterly blood tests to monitor this stuff. IMO this article is just rehashed click bait.

[Dont call me Shirley]

62. They are working on aging us faster so we die sooner.

[yeoman6987]

66. If that were the case they never would have made

Smoking a negative or talk about not eating fatty foods.

[Dont call me Shirley]

68. But alas, yeoman,they did try with all their might!

[Stuart G]

63. This is a link to the actual study..published on July 29, 2015,you can read the whole study..

This is the study that is discussed in the OP..about side effects of statins. one of the tested medicines is generic Lipitor.


http://ajpcell.physiology.org/content/ajpcell/early/2015/07/23/ajpcell.00406.2014.full.pdf

You may not understand it, but this is the actual study...in a moment, two press releases on this study. One from Tulane University, and the other from the journal that published this

[Stuart G]

64. This is a link to the press release from Tulane University on Aug 13, on this study

https://tulane.edu/news/releases/cholesterol-lowering-statins-may-be-a-double-edged-sword.cfm

[Stuart G]

65. This is a link to a press release from medical journal,American Physiological Society(publisher)

The American Physiological Society Press Release...This is the journal that actually published the study, and a press release on the study that I posted two above this post..

http://www.the-aps.org/mm/hp/Audiences/Public-Press/2015/38.html

[Jesus Malverde]

74. Thanks for the links

[bananas]

77. Thank you. nt

[Marthe48]

78. This is concerning

My 92 year old mother-in-law has been taking a statin drug for a long time, and she was diagnosed with dementia last spring. I don't think she even has a cholesterol problem, not the way she eats and most of her brothers and sisters lived long, healthy lives.

[SkyDaddy7]

83. Americans would rather eat...

red meat wrapped in bacon smothered in cheese & sing GOD BLESS AMERICA...Than eat healthy. Then they they vote Republican take these fucking pills & blame Democrats for the health care system being so screwed up!

USA!!!!

[GliderGuider]

87. ??? Red meat wrapped in bacon and smothered in cheese IS healthy.

At least it is for me. For most people the sugar and heavily refined starches are the heart-disease killers. I blame Ancel Keys and the McGovern Committee.

http://authoritynutrition.com/modern-nutrition-policy-lies-bad-science/

[Skittles]

92. if people would just stop demonizing everything that would help too

everything in moderation is the key, along with a LOT of exercise

[Kingofalldems]

85. I take them and feel no effects at all.

Last edited Sun Sep 27, 2015, 07:14 PM - Edit history (1)

I guess I am lucky or the bad stuff just hasn't kicked in yet.

[grasswire]

90. but.......it is not cholesterol that causes coronary artery disease.

It is inflammation. Inflammation of the arteries allows plaque to adhere to the artery walls.

Therefore, the race to lower cholesterol at all costs in order to prevent CAD has been simply a cash cow for big pharma.

An anti-inflammatory agenda is recommended by cardiologists who are at the top of their game as metabolic cardiologists.

Also important: anyone taking statins should also be taking CoQ10. Statins deplete CoQ10 in the body.

[GliderGuider]

95. Yes, that is indeed the sticking point.

Inflammation seems to be the key. Since I stopped eating starches and sugars a year and a half ago and switched to a diet of mostly meat, my inflammation levels have plummeted. If I had concerns about my cardiac health, I'd look much more closely at markers like CRP rather than LDL.

I put my doctor on notice years ago: "No statins, ever, under any circumstances." She accepts my position, and fortunately it hasn't been a major problem since then - she also accepts that patients have the last word regarding their care. But also it's partly because I stopped getting cholesterol checks in order to keep the "temptation to prescribe" to a minimum.

[grasswire]

98. good idea. No cholesterol checks.

I have also had that experience with my PCP. No statins ever. And of course patients have the last word regarding their care.

My diet is not mostly meat, though. My diet is mostly fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, certain grains and certain cheeses. Some meat but no red meat. Very little carbs or sugars.

I wish more physicians and people could become informed about metabolic cardiology.

[GliderGuider]

100. Yes, the optimal diet for any health issue depends on one's personal metabolism.

My heart is in fine shape, but I have fairly severe metabolic syndrome, along with gluten and dairy allergies. As a consequence I even have to limit or avoid most fruit and cheese. I've always preferred meat though, so the diet works for me.

The big key, for both heart and general metabolic health, is avoiding sugars and starches. All those nice high-glycemic "comfort foods" are off the menu.

[grasswire]

104. yes and the sad thing is that I am a baker by nature

I love to bake. Especially pies. And because I will only eat a couple of bites of a dessert if that, I bake for others. Neighbors, friends, relatives.

[GliderGuider]

105. "God is an iron..."

"If someone who commits a felony is a felon, and someone who commits gluttony is a glutton, then God is an iron."

Courtesy of SF writer Spider Robinson.

I've never seen a better illustration of that saying than your situation. :-/

[kwassa]

107. and the proof for this is where?

[Drahthaardogs]

96. This research was invitro not invivo

I am not sure how much credence it deserves at this point.

[librechik]

99. Saw this headline JUSt as I was swallowing my lipitor...

[olddots]

103. we used to " have " a doctor

Now big med " has " us .