Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

Cheryl from Michigan — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:24:34 GMT

Dr. Mercola: Please also tell me if red yeast rice is considered a statin? My husband has been taking it for over a year, and his cholesterol is in a very normal healthy range now. (His doctor had wanted him to take Lipator, but I told him no way, and to take the red yeast rice, which did the job wonderfully.) He runs every night after work, eats a healthy diet, and blood pressure is good. He just had a "mini-stroke" 2 days ago, and is waiting to go in for some testing, such as an MRI, and carotid artery check. He used to take a baby aspirin (80 mg.) but has stopped for the last year or so. He just started taking the baby aspirin again this week. He is wondering what could have possibly caused the mini-stroke? He is wondering if there is a red yeast connection, or the Avodart 0.5 mg that he has been taking for about a year (which I have begged him to stop taking, after reading the side effects). He is also taking blood pressure medication, Lisinapro, and Viagra. Trying to come up with a "side effect" for Stroke, with any of these medications. My husband is 66 years old. Please help.

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

uncleandy — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 19:06:38 GMT

Always remember,the Medical Profession has little to do with proper health care,has alot to do with money

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

elyse_stabiner — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:52:51 GMT

I am participating in a study done by University of Washington, concerning rhabdomyolysis. Nothing doing by my attorneys.

If you look at Italy, they have one of the highest levels of cholesterol. But, no heart attacks....

I don't know what to think -- my cholesterol is primarily low, in the 200s.

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

elyse_stabiner — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:46:29 GMT

I am participating in a study, by University of Washington, concerning rhabdomyolsis. I didn't get ANYTHING when I was involved in the suit itself.

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

DianaRose — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:42:22 GMT

What about red yeast rice? It is considered a statin? I have put my husband on this and on the Tri-cardia oral chelation because his doctor told him that his cholesterol was high - somewhere in the 230 range. I have read that actually, that is a normal healthy range. When the cardiologist wanted to put him on lipator I absolutely forbade him from taking any such medications. He is too young (just turned 60) and the doc wanted him on it at least 4 years ago. He had been taking blood pressure medication over 4 years ago but hasn't since and is doing very well except for the high cholesterol his doctor told him he had this year. Is it ok to keep giving him these natural statins and cholestrol supplements?

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

Dorle — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:17:32 GMT

I also refused to take statins, so now I'm on fenofibrate and ezetrol. Carotid artery in my neck is blocked, affecting blood pressure in right arm (180 on left arm, 100 on right arm). No sirgical intervention until/if symptoms such as headache, dizzyness, mini stroke appear.

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

merrymg — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:44:32 GMT

your article is so true. My late husband had an LDL that was extremely high so his doctor put him on Lipitor. He was dizzy and did not like it at all... I was seeing a doctor who did more with natural things and he suggested time released niacin..... it worked like a charm.

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

Nevadan — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:11:59 GMT

I highly recommend the book, "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Anthony Colpo (there is another book with name so be careful). Colpo has done an excellent job researching the existing articles from the mainstream medical journals (e.g. the same articles used to justify statins) and exposing lots of interesting details that tend to get buried by big Pharma. Most will be appalled at what passes as "scienctific method". I found the book a good read and a great reference to have on hand.

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

deadea — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:20:57 GMT

My doctor was somewhat taken aback by my refusal to take a statin drug to lower my cholesterol. Under the old guidelines (pre-statins) my numbers would be great. Now, because I'm in a risk category because of high blood pressure, the only way I can meet the "new guidelines" is to take statins. When I refused, she finally suggested the alternative of taking fish oil capsules. I figured that the fish oil capsules wouldn't do any harm, whether I needed them or not. Anyone else out there taking fish oil capsules?

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

GARY BOOTH — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:31:16 GMT

As reported by Linus Pauling in his book, "How to live longer and feel better", Milton Winitz, in his study in 1964 showed that you could lower cholesterol by an average of 75 points in only 8 weeks by taking sucrose and fructose out of the diet, (see pp. 57-59). Winitz proved that saturated fat does not have much if any affect on cholesterol, but that sucrose and fructose are the culprits. Winitz controlled the diet of 18 prisoners for a period of about 18 months and lowered their cholesterol quickly and safely.

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

NathanJackson — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:26:17 GMT

So why are most of the cardiologists and allopathic doctors still oblivious to this information? They STILL act defensive, arrogant, and ignorant when I mention the facts pertaining to fats, cholesterol, and the reasons behind damaged arteries....naturopathically speaking. Do these doctors never receive the latest reports or are they still being kept in the dark by their medical schools or the AMA?

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

chicountry — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:15:03 GMT

Thank you Dr. Mercola! I am a former statin taker. My internist literally thinks statins are the "single greatest discovery of the past decade". When questioned about the need for CoQ10 supplement, he advised there was no evidence that it was necessary. I listened, and subsequently developed lymph-edema, which I am convinced is related. (I was pre-disposed to this condition due to lymph node removal 7 years earlier, but had absolutely no sign of the condition until after starting the statin regimen.) Too bad I wasn't receiving your news letter back then!

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

Dr Rik — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:13:00 GMT

repeat after me-Statins are safe and effective

repeat after me, Medicine is not a faith based cult...

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

curious7 — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:58:29 GMT

Just yesterday I heard part of an interview of a Doctor on CBS news talking about the astronomically low levels of cholesterol Doctors are seeing in their patients. Credit as you may have already guessed was given to the use of statins. Big tap dancing whoop. The only side effect that was mentioned was that there should be some form of monitoring of the liver, as if that was the only danger.

The result more and more doctors will prescribe these dangerous statins, and the bank accounts of "Big Pharma," will grow.

re: Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs: What Are Drugmakers Hiding?

Spunky Lady — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:44:32 GMT

How interesting that I should see this article! I just had my cholestrol tested.A heart scan showed very, very mild abnormality in my heart and Total cholestrol was 226 mg/dl..Trigyclerides:309/HDL:47/VLDL: Cal:62/LDL Calc:117...My cardiologist called me to say he was calling in a RX for Tricor 145mg..no alternatives given....just that....well, I am 50 years old, I have survived cancer 3 times(last time over 15 years ago)a car wreck 5 years ago left me with degenerative disc(no surgery for me)and Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and more symptoms that I can go in to...after 6 months in bed, a Rhumetologist got me up and going(a lot of med's...over 20 pills a day...BUT...with the knowledge that we would taper off and add natural supplements and care along the way...today I only take 9 pills and working on reducing that..I deal with chronic pain every day and it is a constant struggle to get straight answers from Dr.s...my Rhuemotologist moved his practice, so I was back to searching for a dr. that appreciated my goals...so I took matters into my own hands...shortness of breath(I am trying to get my strength back and activity level up)lead me to have my heart checked...and here we are.....NOW...the point! No one asked ME what I wanted to do to lower my cholestrol, so I refused the medication(my diet has been deemed excellent after recent changes)and I will be retested in January...

I have found Dr.s eager to write prescriptions for me because of the complexity of my condition and I think the drug industry pushes it too. I don't want to maintain my illness, I want to rise above it and feel the best I can.

In the meantime I am Jucing with RUBY REDS(A super food) and taking Stabilzed Polyphenol complex(red wine),co Q-10 and Jarrow B-right low odor B Complex, have eliminated sugars and processed foods...lost 30 lbs.

I'm not all the way there yet, but I am determined and have learned one big lesson in all this....speak up and take control of your own health!

Spunky Lady