Posted on 03/30/2010 8:24:19 AM PDT by Scythian
In a lot of cases, I argue on your side. But in this case, you're incorrect. I don't have the references here, but the evidence was overwhelming in a CE conference I did two years ago that high dose niacin is the ONLY medication to actually reduce plaque in the arteries. I'll try to find the references.
I had my cholesterol measured at 240 and started taking fish oil, plant sterols, and 500-1000 mg of niacin daily. All available over the counter for maybe $30/month total.
Lowered my cholesterol to 170 in 3 months.
Love the flush!
I do not want to get into the argument about statins: poison or not poisons. However, this study looked at something we should expect with an FDA process for approval in the future (maybe). Why do I say maybe? The FDA looks at classes of drugs. Now if every antihypertensive required proof of extending life in hypertensive patients, the approval process would stretch out to years, perhaps even decades. If every anti cholesterol medication relied on artery thickness the same would occur. Therefore they use “surrogate markers.” The surrogate marker for antihypertensives is lowering the BP, the surrogate marker for anti cholesterol drugs is the cholesterol level. For those who believe statins are evil and that all medications are evil, I have no response and don’t want to argue about it. Accusations are easy to make but it is impossible to prove a negative so it is almost impossible to defend against an accusation. The burden of proof rests on the person making the accusations. They have their opinions and they must be respected but unless proven, they must be taken with a grain of salt. I do not know this literature as I was an Oncologist but all of you can go to Pub Med which is the library of the NIH (I think). Whoever runs it, NIH or some other Government entity) allows anyone to type in a drug name and references pop up. If you are one who believes all medical research is “fixed” your position must be respected. For others, Pub Med is a good point to start if you want to understand diseases and drugs. In addition Goodman and Gilman is an excellent pharmacology reference. Although retired, I buy it for my Kindle. I am sure you can go to any hospital library and they will help you. You do not need to be on-staff.
A really smart thing to do would be to review the actual study and critique the design for it’s flaws before you blast the study as BS.
Niacin has its own side effects, so it should be monitored with blood tests like other cholesterol drugs.
Zetia does work as a lipids improver but it does not reduce calcium buildup which is what they first hoped
that is what started all this Zetia bashing
Niacin does not work as good as Statins btw...I know this because I tried.
Pravachol is very good to me,...and cheap..20/month
By the way, I bought a great fish oil to, with the highest DHA ratio, all tested for heavy metals, loving it ...
http://www.xtend-life.com/product/Omega_3_DHA_Fish_Oil.aspx
View the label, also, Magnesium will reduce plaque buildup along with L-Arginine, but don’t take L-Arginine if you have had a heart attack or stroke ...
ping
Mine's never been above borderline bad (maybe 212 to 220), but three years ago the doc suggested I take a prescription; instead I just started taking an underdosage - only one tab a day, versus the 4 to 6 recommened - and at the next annual I was about 202......he told me "just continue what you're doing".
my psoriasis is cured....no messy creams, oiontments or jels....the answer is UVB narrow band...have your doc write you a script, and buy a light box ( from 800 to 4000, depending on the type you get ) 6 weeks, every other day, 4 weeks at twice a week, and it will be gone...maintenance of about 1 time a week and eventurally you will not even need it much
What’s the Government recommended Cholesterol level suppose to be this week? They keep changing it...pretty soon most everyone will be requested (Healthscare mandated?) to take a statin.
That's odd, because I took Whole Foods Non-flush Niacin 500mg, and credit it for lowering my Cholestrol from 220 to 180.
ARE you saying they cured or stopped PADS?
I believe I’ve got PADS myself.
This study is not an indictment of other cholesterol lowering drugs like Lipitor and Crestor that stop cholesterol production in the liver. These two drugs have a long and solid track record of saving lives.
The lead investigator of the study said the study was concluded early because the results were clear and there was no need continue subjecting the Zetia patients to something that wasn't working. Mindlessly bashing the pharmaceutical industry should be left to the mindless.
If you are on a niacin therapy, you better be getting your liver enzymes checked regularly.
I take 2000 mg CVS flush free niacin daily. I have been for about a year. At first my cholesterol went down, now I am not so sure.
Fish oil is better than niacin in my opinion, but you need to get a good, heavy metal tested fish oil.
I used to do that, and it did help. But it never completely went away.
It does get much better in the summer though.
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