Why take Statin Drugs?!
Question: Why take Statin Drugs.?
Ok, they lower bad LDL'S and yes they work but they cause Kidney problems, muscle deterioation, Sciatica, Liver Disease, and god knows what else, now these are all could be's and maybe's but it has been proven in many cases, so what does one do.? Take them and Lower your Cholesterol .? or dont take them and risk many other health problems in the future.? Why can't they invent a drug that only lowers Cholesterol with no side affects.? Doctors will tell you that all drugs have side affects, fair enough, but Statin Drugs have severe ones, so what do you do.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
This is a very interesting question. As a retired senior pharmaceutical executive, I can tell you that in general, it is purely to make money for the big pharma companies.
If one has severe hypercholesterolaemia such as familial, heterozygous or homozygous cholesterolaemia then statins are warranted but for the normal average run of the mill person, the large scale studies such as the 4S trial with Simvastatin and the WOSCOPS trial with Pravastatin show minimal benefits. The drug companies spin the results to sound better than they are but in general, approximately one thousand people need to be treated with statins to prevent one major event such as myocardial infarction or stroke. The results are slightly better for people that have already had an infarct and want to prevent another.
Cholesterol is not the enemy, Homocysteine is the real enemy. Homocysteine can be tackled by a good, qualified nutritionist without drugs. also, canned sardines and oat bran reduce cholesterol significantly if eaten frequently and regularly. Exercise increases HDL and reduces LDL, particularly resistance training.
I have high cholesterol but I don't take drugs for it, I exercise and eat well and if it gets me, it gets me but I wouldn't be much better off with a statin.
Co-enzyme Q10 is what you're thinking of.Health Question & Answer
If one has severe hypercholesterolaemia such as familial, heterozygous or homozygous cholesterolaemia then statins are warranted but for the normal average run of the mill person, the large scale studies such as the 4S trial with Simvastatin and the WOSCOPS trial with Pravastatin show minimal benefits. The drug companies spin the results to sound better than they are but in general, approximately one thousand people need to be treated with statins to prevent one major event such as myocardial infarction or stroke. The results are slightly better for people that have already had an infarct and want to prevent another.
Cholesterol is not the enemy, Homocysteine is the real enemy. Homocysteine can be tackled by a good, qualified nutritionist without drugs. also, canned sardines and oat bran reduce cholesterol significantly if eaten frequently and regularly. Exercise increases HDL and reduces LDL, particularly resistance training.
I have high cholesterol but I don't take drugs for it, I exercise and eat well and if it gets me, it gets me but I wouldn't be much better off with a statin.
Co-enzyme Q10 is what you're thinking of.Health Question & Answer
I never will again that's for sure. I was a healthy female in my 20s and took them for high LDLs. I got a muscle injury while taking them, it wouldn't heal and caused a chain reaction in other muscles resulting in permanent damage and pain. The Doctors did not suspect the Statin until it was to late and I was "leaking muscle fluid" or CK. I suffer now from Lupus they say was triggered from the muscle trauma that the statin caused and prevented from healing.Health Question & Answer