Lipitor and other Statins

[qwerty]

A couple of years ago, I received my annual physical. Everything fine BUT the M.D. told me my LDL (bad cholesterol) was elevated and so were my triglycerides. In addition my HDL (good cholesterol) was running on the low side. So the M.D. writes me a prescription for 40 mg of Lipitor. After about 3 months on this medication I started noticing joint pain and stiffness. I asked the M.D. what could be causing this and he said it was arthritis. I have no family history of this. Ok so I continue on with taking the Lipitor. After getting my routine bloodworkup results, this is routine in taking statins. The good news was that all the above were in normal range but that my liver enzymes were elevated, which I found out the hard way that statins block a receptor in your liver. Your liver produces about 70% of your LDL, the rest is diet. They tell me to stop taking the Lipitor and get another liver profile in 1 month. Sure enough the liver enzymes start falling and I start feeling better. So this is my statin story. Anyone else have problems with the statin class of drugs? I found out a great deal of information from this website.

www.spacedoc.net

Lipitor is the number 1 selling medication in the world. I realize that many people take this drug and have no problems. So what do I do for my heart health. I take a liberal amount of Omega-3 fish oil and I try to find foods that naturally have high amounts of omega-3 in them such as salmon,tuna and other oily fishes. Plus companies are putting omega-3's in a wide variety of foods.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Statins are very dangerous drugs, I would never take them. You can lower cholesterol with regular niacin-- never use the flush free, and a low carb eating plan. Ingesting fats doesn't raise cholesterol, sugars do. It's one of those things nobody tells people.


This topic can be expanded to other diseases too. Did you know that diabetics on oral medications have a 12x higher rate of pancreatic cancer? It is so dangerous to use some of those meds. And the safer ones, like metformin (glucophage) are very hard on the kidneys. My personal opinion is that it would be better to change the diet, and just do that if you can keep the sugar levels low enough to not cause acidosis. Of course, some patients must take insulin, but that's not as dangerous as the oral meds.

We could go on to other topics like mental health, cancers, etc. The drugs are often more dangerous than the diseases.

I'm glad you are feeling better. Fish oil is a wonderful anti-inflammatory-- probably the best on the market because it is so safe. It helps so many diseases. Good luck with your continued good health.

[Aamylf]

Husband's new dr. said,"Oh your cholesterol is too high -- it's 130" Husband says, "It's been 130 since I was 40. No drugs." She says, "BP is high -- it's 130/80. Youneed drugs." He says no. She insists. He says no. She says, "Treadmill stress test and something to view the arteries." Husband is 67, out of shape, does the treadmill and gets whatever the heck it is to look at the arteries.

Outcome: bp doesn't go above 180 even though he thought he might die from the workout. Plaque check? Dr. giving test shakes head and says, "You have the arteries of a 20 year old. Don't let her talk you into drugs."

Dr. is still insisting. He is still refusing. He's a big believe in niacin, too, and some other herbal thing.

[backlash]

It's called suddenly sick.
Drug company comes out with a new miracle drug, gets the doctors to buy into the scam and there you go.
Cholosteral below 130 was good till lipitor came out. Then it needed to be under 100. About the only way to get it that low was, that's right lipitor.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Husband's new dr. said,"Oh your cholesterol is too high -- it's 130" Husband says, "It's been 130 since I was 40. No drugs." She says, "BP is high -- it's 130/80. Youneed drugs." He says no. She insists. He says no. She says, "Treadmill stress test and something to view the arteries." Husband is 67, out of shape, does the treadmill and gets whatever the heck it is to look at the arteries.



I was at the university cardiovascular center during my 3rd or 4th pregnancy because I always had to go to both an OB and a cardiologist during pregnancy. It was attached to the hospital complex itself where all those multiple building are attached with tunnels and walkways over the parking lots. I was sitting in the room, waiting for the doctor when there was a sudden commotion out in the hallway, so I looked out to see what all the noise and running was. Some older guy had a treadmill test, started having chestpains and when he walked away dropped dead in the hallway. They were doing CPR, and about five minutes later a bunch of people from the hospital itself showed up with a gurney and they were shocking him.
I am a big chicken. I just won't have a stress test or the dye tests where they shoot it into your leg, or dye in MRIs, etc. I just won't do it. I don't mind EKGs or echos of any type, or even xrays once in a while, but I have limits. I fear the testing and treatments more than the disease in most cases.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Dr. is still insisting. He is still refusing. He's a big believe in niacin, too, and some other herbal thing.

Sevent Flower is supposed to be really good, but I personally wouldn't take it because it is made in China. And Hawthorne and Red Yeast rice. I don't really have any personal experience with any of those things, but they are common supplements for heart disease.
I do know CoQ10 has helped with electrical issues with my heart rhythm.

[LoiDreams]

I had a doctor who insisted I go on Statins. I took it for about a month and started haveing this strange pain in my leg (like a groin pull). I would wake up and not be able to walk. Never had it before that. I stopped taking the drug and it pretty much went away. Doc wanted me to try another different brand. Stupid me, I tried it. Same problem but it took less than a week:eek: for the same side affect. Stopped taking it immediately again, after a little over a week stopped having the problem. Doc wanted me to try yet another. Told him he was nuts and changed doctors. I also see an Endocrinologist because of my thyroid, he said that only a small amount of people who have heart problems also have high or out of balance cholesterol and may be completely unrelated. He also told me that it is common for people with underactive thyroid to have high bad cholesterol and low good cholesterol and not to worry unless heart disease runs in the family. It doesn't so I don't.

LoiDreams

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Loi-- If you still have your thyroid, as opposed to some who were treated for thyroid cancer, you might check into articles on iodine deficiency related to hypothyroidism. I put a patch of iodine on my skin in different places (thigh, tummy, breast, belly) every day about half dollar size. It fades daily. People with low iodine levels will find that the spot fades within a few hours as compared to a whole day because their body needs it, so absorbs it faster. Usually, once people get a good iodine level, their thyroid function improves. It is just a small dot of Iodine on the skin in different areas every day, so it doesn't hurt you.
It's something you might look up on the web. And if your function improves, maybe your doctor could lower your synthroid or other drugs he gives for it. He can test it with blood tests like usual to see if it does help.

http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/healingtechniques/iodine_patch_test.htm

http://ezinearticles.com/?Iodine-Skin-Test&id=1595529

I personally don't take Iodine orally, but I do keep a patch on my skin everyday, so my body can absorb it as needed. I think it is too dangerous to take it orally, but many people do take it. I don't have hypothyroidism, so I don't.

[calliesue]

If the disease doesn't kill you the cure will.;)

[LoiDreams]

for now. I usually take a synthetic thyroid but have not taken it for about 2 months now. ran out and sommer is to busy at my job(8-9 hour days) for an all day trip to the endocrinologist. Hope to get in to see him in October. My anti-nuclear antibodies have been tested as really high in the past haven't had them tested recently. doctor says he's not entirely sure it is only because of my thyroid. I also get sore joints but no swelling or redness. Just stiff and sore. I've been tested for the different types of arthritis but don't have them. One doctor speculated that because I sometimes have red patches on my elbows that it might be psoriatic arthritis. I don't know if there is a test for that. I don't worry about it much my joints don't hurt all the time just sometimes. I can usually tell when we are due for rain. I will try that iodine test. I sure would love to not have to remember to put my pill under my tongue every day once I get them again. Would the dark Betadine work for the test? I have some that in the house.
LoiDreams

[Nancymw]

I read if you even take them, and there are other alternative ways to help your cholesterol, you must take CoQ10 and the statins deplete your body of them. See naturalnews.com for particulars. I also heard it depends not on the number if under 300, but the percentage ratios of good hdl to bad ldl and triglycerides to total cholesterol and that your body Needs choloesterol, especially your brain. See mercola.com for stats.