Do Cholestrol Drugs Wreck Your Body? How? (pain, ankle, swelling)

[Mattie Jo]

I was reading on another thread where someone said that they can harm your body, so I want to know how? I am not on them but I have family members that are?

[BlueSkyHoliday]

Statin drugs work by inhibiting the production of an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase by the body. This enzyme is the first 'step' in the production of cholesterol, particularly the bad LDL cholesterol, by the body (NOT from diet; this is why statin are given to people whose high cholesterol doesn't respond to dietary modifications). The problem is, when HMG-CoA reductase is inhibited it also severely reduces some other things in the 'cholesterol production chain' that are GOOD and very necessary for our bodies to produce.

One of them is Coenzyme Q10, or Co-Q10 for short. You've probably seen commercials for this as a supplement. Co-Q10 is very important to muscle function, nerve health, and production and maintenance of collagen and elastin -- so a deficiency in this can lead to severe and permanent muscle and nerve damage. Memory loss and other cognitive difficulties are also linked to impaired Co-Q10 production (something the medical press downplays, by the way).

Another good guy in the cholesterol-producing chain is Dolichol. Dolichol acts on a molecular (DNA) level to ensure that the cells in our bodies 'work' as they are supposed to. So a dolichol deficiency can cause havoc in virtually any area of our body, and because it is done on a cellular level it is extremely difficult to pinpoint where, what and how the problem is happening. There is no 'supplement' pill for dolichol (as there is for Co-Q10).

Personally I would never take any drug that messes with how my body works on a molecular level. That is like trying to shoot a fly on the wall using an elephant gun! (By the way, my total cholesterol is quite high -- 295, and 188 of that is 'bad' cholesterol. Triglycerides are normal. My levels are hereditary, not dietary.)

[Laura707]

Here is MY story on Lipitor..

10 mg... Within weeks had sudden onset of horriable knee pain, hit both knees in the same moment... I had this knee pain for 5 to 6 years (time on Lipitor). I ran home, checked the insert, no mention of joint pain.... Started with non stop indigestion.

20mg... Feet started bother me. Burning and itching and developed odd lumpy swelling. Saw about 4 different doctors and it was try this and try that to help with no mention of what it was... (they didn't know and nothing helped). Started with acid reflux.

40 mg.. Suddenly started having BAD memory problems, confusion, couldn't remember words and if I finally did, I couldn't say them, they came out as jibberish. Started stumbeing a lot. I was in such bad shape within 10 months, that I knew I was heading fast to no longer being able to work and on disability.

I saw a TV ad one day that woke me up. A lawyer looking for people with memory loss who were taking Lipitor.. Came home and got on the computer and did the homework I should have done before I ever took that first one and I was STUNNED at what I found. I got off of the stuff and within 2 days, the head fog I had been it was gone, the confusion, gone... all the ailments were GONE!

It took me getting my energy back to realize it had stolen just about all the engergy I had and how much of my life it had stolen from me a snippit at a time. I had gotten where I had all but quit driving because of the confusion and forgetfulness.

Getting off was not the end of my problem. It is like my body is constantly trying to adjust or repair itself. Tendon problems in my ankle and both shoulders, researching those on the internet, I found out the knee problem was tendons also and statins cause tendon damage in some people. I feel like that stuff has brought on more problems on and off of it than the law should allow! I worry about the rest of my life and the shape I will be in. I was planning on working until they ran me off, now it looks like I will have to take early retirement.

This is just covering some of the major problems I had while on and off of it. There was a lot more but I don't want to bore you. Just let me say that when you get off of statin drugs, the problems do not always go away, it takes years to recover if you ever do recover completley.

[mrdude]

statins work well, everyone in my family is using them, but they have their risks. look into fibrates, such as sesamin (available OTC. just don't buy scivation or controlled labs brand), or prescriptions like bezalip, fenofibrate, or gemfibrozil.

[BlueSkyHoliday]

I have recently begun using Sytrinol, an OTC supplement made from citrus peel extracts and palm fruit extract. The results of studies done on it to date have been very encouraging, and there are apparantly no side effects.

Some informational links about Sytrinol:

Sytrinol - Lowering Cholesterol, LDL, and Triglycerides Naturally

Sytrinol : by Ray Sahelian, M.D. health benefit cholesterol

http://www.purecaps.com/PDF/pi/Sytrinol.pdf

I decided to purchase the Carlson brand of this product because I know their supplements are one of the purest on the market (I also take their Fish Oil capsules for omega-3s because we don't eat fish). They are a bit more expensive but IMO worth it.

[Mattie Jo]

Thanks for the information. I am going to pass it on to my family.