Britain launched the first over-the-counter cholesterol-lowering drug called simvastatin, which is considered a newer version of Zocor.
Millions of people have been prescribed statins to help reduce their chances of having a heart attack. The extremely high number of people taking statins has turned them into the biggest money making prescription in the world.
Supporters of the over-the-counter cholesterol medication argued that offering the drug without requiring a prescription would increase the drug's availability to people seeking ways to lower their risk of coronary artery disease. Opponents to the over-the-counter drug stated that they weren't a safe option due to the likelihood of being taken unnecessarily or in the wrong doses.
The proposed measures for monitoring this over-the-counter medication is having the pharmacists question customers about their health and then offer a variety of health tests as a way to ensure the safety of the drug.
Some experts view these over-the-counter drugs as a way to slash the expenses of statin drugs in Britain, which has already reached $1.28 billion a year.
Yahoo News July 29, 2004
I announced Britain's decision in a past newsletter article and am sorry to see that they did not wait longer to authorize this switch. Statin drugs are fraught with dangers, and what's worse is that there are only a very small handful of people who benefit from them--far less than one in 100.
Drugs are rarely the solution for high cholesterol. Well over 99 percent of people can normalize their cholesterol levels by restricting grains and sugars. There are only a handful of people with genetic issues who require statin drugs, and their cholesterol levels are typically 350 or higher.
In addition to restricting grains and sugars, which you can read more about in my new book, Total Health Program, there are some simple things you can do to normalize cholesterol levels.
You can take a high-quality fish oil that is chock full of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. It is important to find a fish oil that is independently tested by a lab and found to conform to purity guidelines. This will ensure that the oil is free of mercury and other toxins. One such brand, which I have found to be of superior quality, is Carlson's fish and cod liver oil, and I now offer this exceptional fish oil/cod liver oil to you in my "Recommended Products" section. You may also be able to find it in your local health food store.
Additionally, if you are a man, or a woman who is in menopause, you should check your iron levels as elevated levels of iron can raise cholesterol levels and cause major oxidative damage in the blood vessels, heart and other organs. Excess iron is also one of the major contributing factors to cancer risk.
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Crestor and Other Statins: Are They Really Worth the Risk?
More Insane Uses For Statin Drugs
Statins, Calcium a Deadly Mix
Statins - Is the Danger in the Dose?
Half of Population Will be Taking Statins
Lunatic Recommendations For Statin Drug Use