Posted on 03/20/2010 4:54:22 PM PDT by TennesseeGirl
Yep. The various heart publications indicate that if you're going to have problems, they normally will happen in the first few months.
Since 1995 I have taken high doses of Lipitor followed by simvastatin 80mg. I had 6 coronary bypasses in 1981 and now, 29 years later, the bypasses are still open. Liver and kidney functions have been normal, checked regularly. Haven't had muscle problems in that time so I'm not likely to be scared off quickly.
Nose bleeds? Now that’s something different.
If you can’t, you can’t. I’m afraid not to take them
now after not taking them before my operation.
I don’t want more by-passes or what I fear the most...stroke.
Sounds like you were taking lisinopril. Maybe you see try a ARBS (Angiotensin II receptor blockers ).
T. Package RN
I agree. I'm on 20 mg. Simvastatin with 10 mg. Zetia and have great numbers with no ill effects in over a year.
Yup, the notorious lisinopril. Oh that kennel cough was something else.
Read up on it...it may be something of interest.
80mg is a very high dose. I was on 40 at a high and now 20. Numbers good.
***
I’m on 40 mg - have noticed shaking in left hand recently. Numbers have been stable for 2+ yeasr now, about 155-165 total cholesterol.
Was wondering if I could decrease ...
I give up, what’s peripheral, etc
?
In short:
- "target" levels were established to ensure enough of the population would fall "at risk" (even been adjusted lower to get more users over time)
- the statins cross the blood-brain barrier and kill off cholesterol in the brain that is not easily replenishable (BTW, the body, esp. the brain NEEDs cholesterol to function and grow!)
- I went and had one of the cardiac scoring high-tech MRIs that you have to pay for out of pocket (most ins. don't cover) and found out that I have way less than 10% scaling, which based on my age, is quite good (it is actually the scaling or calcification in the arteries that is a cause of heart disease, not a high cholesterol level!)
- all of the studies that they have done over the years can only establish a very weak (almost non-existent) relationship between the use of statins and lower instances of heart disease
Obviously everyone should do their own research (i.e., not rely on an AMA member) and make their own decision. I have felt so much better since I stopped and have had all of those nasty side effects disappear over time.
Iunderstand your fear. Most people feel the same as you--afraid not to because the dr. prescribes; just read everything you can about statins. If you haven't subscribed to Newsmax, do so and you will get bulletins on health news. Between the fact that the normal high for cholesterol as well as LDL, triglicerides, etc. were lowered drastically a couple decades ago, and the huge side effects listed for statins, plus the 2 or 3 huge research programs that have been terminated early because the statin group were having many more strokes and heart attacks tha the placebo group--I am much more afraid to take them than not.
vaudine
Wow, this has been known since around 1990. I used to sell a competing statin and it was well known that simvastatin and lovastatin had a propensity to cause rhabdo at high doses. But, 80mg is a very high dose of simvastatin. I’ve been prescribed 40mg of pravastatin, and I do think I have had some issues from it as well, if I take it every day.
The nice thing about Crestor is that it is apparently pretty effective even at doses as low as 5mg. I think if I switch, I’d like to try Crestor.
Also, I am concerned about how low they are trying to drive cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is necessary for formation of the connective tissue in the brain. I wonder about the wisdom of driving cholesterol down to very low levels in the elderly, who are at higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke. If you have lived past 70, you need to ask your doctor about your particular risk/benefit equation with respect to statin therapy.
Just happened to me, doctor just about beat me on the head to start with Zetia.
I used it one month, lowered my LDL 13% instead of the 25 to 30% he said was normal, so I’ve quit it.
Yes, I take RYR, Triple Omega, Phosphatidl Choline Complex, and CoQ10 (in addition to the rest of my daily vitamins and supplements). Like others have said in the thread: good high-fiber diet, exercise, and maintaining a good attitude are very important.
Oh and BTW, every body creates a varying amount of cholesterol, some bodies create more than others, naturally, independent of diet. So any responsible doctor (even an AMA member) should speak about general guidelines, not universal rules/laws in regard to a person's cholesterol level. (Of course, I haven't met one that does!)
And some wonder why the docs are so fast to write out the prescriptions? I'm sure that you are aware of all of the "incentives" that the drug companies give them based on the volume of scripts written, that is a huge driver.
No, I am not casting slurs on your manliness but it is very common for older men to have drops in testosterone. That can cause all sorts of nasty things to happen.
Of course it could also be that being recently married you are not getting enough sleep. :)
Zetia—why? It has never been shown to reduce cardiac events. No way Zetia will lower cholesterol 25-30% by itself.
Great. My Dr. just prescribed this for me.
Also if one took medicinal steroids within the past year, sometimes the bodily production of its own steroids can shut down.
I was not aware of that. Interesting.
Same here. Had problems I had never experienced before. Doc said to stop. I’m fine now.
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