<p>My doctor recommended a statin for me (pravachol, then generic pravastatin) even though my cholesterol was not really high. The good/bad ratio was not great, but it seemed that mainly he thought that taking statins was a good thing for everyone. I being skeptical, resisted for a number of years but finally agreed. Now my skepticism is growing again, and I have decided to stop the meds and concentrate more on diet and exercise. Although the
FDA has assured us that there is no link between statins and ALS, and I trust my doctors, and I believe doctors as a group are very smart and ethical people, there is just too great a financial interest in getting every man and woman in America over age 40 to take one of these pills every day for the rest of his/her life. Who knows what might be revealed after 20 more years of this? Maybe statins will be confirmed as the wonder drugs that doctors seem to think they are. But maybe longterm harm will eventually be proven. </p>
<p>I can’t even find online accurate estimates of how many Americans take statins. Is it 10 million, 30 million, or more?</p>
<p>Just got the same rec from my doctor. My cholesterol was not really high, but she ran a “C-reactive protien” test for inflamation that is supposed to be the latest and best test for risk of artery disease. Came back high risk. Um, inflamation? That plantar fasciatis that triggered the whole visit? I haven’t heard back…
I really, really don’t want to start on statins.</p>
<p>Sortof.
Doctor didn’t want me use statins because of side affects. She put me on fenofibrate (tricor) to bring down triglycerides level down. The cholestrol balance was OK. I experienced 2 years of excruciating leg and shoulder pain that I and doctors associated with athletic injuries and age. One day I read the warnings of tricor on one of their print advertisement and realized their “rare instances” was me. I was by this time downing 2-4 acetaminophens every six hours, and to save my kidneys but ruin my stomach 2-4 aspirins alternately. I could barely walk and sleep. </p>
<p>So I went on a strict Atkins Diet, which is a pure B****, for almost 2 years. Triglycerides came down but our meat and protein bill was high. </p>
<p>I then read a Reader’s Digest article on Diabetes II. Bingo, All of my symptoms was from diabetic related. Now on metformin which has controlled the some of the triglyceride level, limited my hot flashes, numbness, and mood swings. I also bike a continuous 14 miles, 1-1/2 hours per day. Still the triglycerides are still high. </p>
<p>Thus my doc is going to put me on statins. I have tried the 5mg level without muscle pain. I am also taking ground red rice yeast with my granola and yogurt. </p>
<p>I’m really not too concerned because Dad is hitting 90, my aunt 96, my grandmother passed at 90 and Mom is 92. </p>
<p>Be fully aware of the side affects. Your problem can be diabetes related rather than a cholesterol problem. Control your sugar and starch intake. Read Atkins.</p>
<p>^Interesting about taking red yeast rice. I take statins because I am diabetic not because my cholesterol levels are high. I exercise regularly but I figure the statins are affecting my muscles because I tire easily. I just discovered red yeast rice and am trying to incorporate it into part of my regular diet.</p>
<p>Old Red yeast rice was effective because it had lovastatin in it. The new version has to have lovastatin removed and now, is not effective.
Pravastatin is the oldest statin. It was approved in 1991. Normally, by now we would know if there are any long term problems with the drug. I have not heard of any. It is the weakest statin.
Most tolerate statins fairly well.<br>
Statins also work on inflammation.
There is evidence that 2-4 g of fish oil per day does increase your HDL cholesterol. High doses of niacin can increase your HDL and lower your LDL cholesterol.</p>
<p>"Just got the same rec from my doctor. My cholesterol was not really high, but she ran a “C-reactive protien” test for inflamation that is supposed to be the latest and best test for risk of artery disease. Came back high risk. Um, inflamation? That plantar fasciatis that triggered the whole visit? I haven’t heard back…
I really, really don’t want to start on statins. "</p>
<p>Inflammatory markers in bloodwork are legitimate. These are often seen in individuals who are overweight, but not always. They do put one at higher risk for coronary artery disease.</p>
<p>I understand the hesitancy to start any kind of drug regimen. There is a PRICE to be paid for every drug known to man. So the risks and benefits of taking the drug must be weighed against the risks and benefits of not taking it. A personal decision, ultimately.</p>
<p>If diet and exercise could eliminate the necessity for taking a drug, I would always try that tactic first. I would also be asking if any other kind of inflammatory process could be going on that could interfere with the accuracy of this test. It never hurts to repeat the blood work.</p>
<p>You can post the link as long as it isn’t a blog.</p>
<p>I took them briefly and bailed. Lost weight and changed my eating and solved the cholesterol problem. I think these drugs have a lot of risk and most people I know are refusing them.</p>
<p>Statins have been extensively studied and the studies show that people taking them live longer and have fewer health incidents, both heart-related and other, even for people who don’t have elevated cholesterol. We don’t understand why but it has been suggested that wider use might be a significant cost benefit to society. </p>
<p>The only real side-effects of note are the rare cases when a person can’t tolerate them at all and can suffer severe muscle destruction. That’s why they ask you to look for pain after you start - and it’s really intense pain. </p>
<p>I have no idea what the comment about ALS meant.</p>
<p>Statins may be prescribed because there’s a history of heart disease in your family even if you don’t have high cholesterol because the biggest factor is not cholesterol at all but genetics. As for C-Reactives, recent studies have cast doubt on their meaning.</p>
<p>I was on Lipitor for about a year and went off due to side effects. I talked with lots of others who have used statins and side effects seem to be very common. I did not have any abnormal lab tests. I did not have definite muscle “pain”, but I was always tired and felt weak and lazy. A few weeks without and I am feeling much better. I am working with my cardiologist and will try alternatives after a few more weeks of detox.</p>
<p>I wrote, “Although the FDA has assured us that there is no link between statins and ALS,”</p>
<p>I don’t think I can state it more clearly.<br> FDA Analysis Determines No Link Between Statins and ALS</p>
<p>from an article…
</p>
<p>Apparently some people thought there was a link. Some users of statins who later contracted ALS thought maybe the statins caused their ALS. There was enough concern that the FDA went back and reviewed clinical trials and announced that there was in fact no link between statins and ALS. I am not trying to scare people away from statins.</p>
<p>My reference states with Lipitor muscle pain is seen in about 5-6%. That is considered to be a moderate incidence. The more severe muscle breakdown is listed as rare, so incidence is <1%.
While there is no evidence of statins causing fatigue, they have been reports of them causing irritability and insomnia.<br>
Lipitor clears from your body in about 90 hours.<br>
The number of people dying from cardiological reasons has decreased significantly. One of the reasons given for this decline is the use of statins.</p>
<p>Nova10, you sound like a physician or other healthcare professional who does NOT take statins. My Lipitor experience seems to match what several of my friends experienced. I would not call it muscle pain, or fatigue, or weakness. Instead there seems to be a vague discomfort upon with strenous activity. There is no specific pain, but it just seems like it is too much work to exercise. A lack of exercise then leads to muscle weakness and a viscous cycle begins.</p>
<p>Count me in the camp of doctor has recently advised it and I won’t do it. My case is weird, I think – I am NOT overweight, do NOT have high blood pressure, have perfectly good triglycerides, and very good HDL – it’s just the LDL number that keeps creeping up.</p>
<p>Yes, Lipitor can cause pain in some (my H had that happen). He switched to Zetia. He eats a perfect diet and exercises religiously; his high cholesterol is all genetic.</p>
<p>dbws, I’m in the same boat…not overweight, never had high cholesteral, triglycerides fine, but my number was off for the “good cholesteral” which the doc told me was related to my many decades longstanding Hashimotos. I fought for a solid year, took niacin, took fish oil, monitored diet…you name it and budged it slightly, but not enough to make the doctor happy. I finally capitulated and started Lipitor which brought the bad number into the good and lowered my total cholesteral down into the 120s. I worry about it constantly and worry about if too low of cholesteral is bad, but have really not had any side efects.</p>